| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Myths and Myth-Makers by John Fiske: word fiend, and began to be applied indiscriminately to any
kind of evil spirit. In one place he is called Adeva, the
"enemy of the gods," an epithet exactly equivalent to the
Persian dev.
In the Zendavesta the myth of Hercules and Cacus has given
rise to a vast system of theology. The fiendish Panis are
concentrated in Ahriman or Anro-mainyas, whose name signifies
the "spirit of darkness," and who carries on a perpetual
warfare against Ormuzd or Ahuramazda, who is described by his
ordinary surname, Spentomainyas, as the "spirit of light." The
ancient polytheism here gives place to a refined dualism, not
Myths and Myth-Makers |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Virginian by Owen Wister: strength; he need make no move meanwhile, but lie low for the
immediate temptation to front and waylay them and win his battle
over the deputy foreman. But the Virginian seemed to find nothing
save enjoyment in this sunny September morning, and ate his
breakfast at Forsythe serenely.
That meal done and that station gone, our caboose took up again
its easy trundle by the banks of the Yellowstone. The mutineers
sat for a while digesting in idleness.
"What's your scar?" inquired one at length inspecting casually
the neck of his neighbor.
"Foolishness," the other answered.
The Virginian |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Beast in the Jungle by Henry James: eyes closed for a little, as if, withdrawn into herself, she were
for a last time trying. "But I can't!" she said as she raised them
again to take leave of him.
She couldn't indeed, as but too promptly and sharply appeared, and
he had no vision of her after this that was anything but darkness
and doom. They had parted for ever in that strange talk; access to
her chamber of pain, rigidly guarded, was almost wholly forbidden
him; he was feeling now moreover, in the face of doctors, nurses,
the two or three relatives attracted doubtless by the presumption
of what she had to "leave," how few were the rights, as they were
called in such cases, that he had to put forward, and how odd it
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Lemorne Versus Huell by Elizabeth Drew Stoddard: "You are better," he said, presently. "Come go with me and get
some refreshment." And he beckoned to Mrs. Bliss, who was down the
hall with an unwieldy gentleman.
"Will you go to supper now?" she asked.
"We are only waiting for you," Mr. Uxbridge answered, offering
me his arm.
When we emerged into the blaze and glitter of the supper-room I
sought refuge in the shadow of Mrs. Bliss's companion, for it
seemed to me that I had lost my own.
"Drink this Champagne," said Mr. Uxbridge. "Pay no attention to
the Colonel on your left; he won't expect it."
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