| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: the way of achievement. I suppose a fellow proposing to cut his
throat would experience a sort of relief while occupied in stropping
his razor carefully.
And Anthony was extremely careful in preparing for himself and for
the luckless Flora, an impossible existence. He went about it with
no more tremors than if he had been stuffed with rags or made of
iron instead of flesh and blood. An existence, mind you, which, on
shore, in the thick of mankind, of varied interests, of
distractions, of infinite opportunities to preserve your distance
from each other, is hardly conceivable; but on board ship, at sea,
en tete-e-tete for days and weeks and months together, could mean
Chance |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lost Continent by Edgar Rice Burroughs: knife.
It was evident that she felt entirely competent to protect
herself.
As we stood there we heard the sound of voices. They were
coming from the forest through which we had passed when we
had come from camp.
"They are searching for me," said the girl. "Where shall we
hide?"
I didn't relish hiding. But when I thought of the
innumerable dangers which surrounded us and the
comparatively small amount of ammunition that I had with me,
Lost Continent |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: God, and serve Him, and give thanks to Him; unto Him shall ye
return! And if ye say it is a lie, nations before you called (the
apostles) liars too; but an apostle has only his plain message to
preach!'
Have they not seen how God produces the creation, and then turns
it back? verily, that to God is easy.
Say, 'Journey ye on in the land, and behold how the creation
appeared; then God produces another production: verily, God is
mighty over all!'
He torments whom He will, and has mercy on whom He will; and unto
Him shall ye be returned.
The Koran |
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 Grimm's Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm: I'll sit on the box and be coachman, if you like, but I'll not draw.'
While this was passing, a duck came quacking up and cried out, 'You
thieving vagabonds, what business have you in my grounds? I'll give it
you well for your insolence!' and upon that she fell upon Chanticleer
most lustily. But Chanticleer was no coward, and returned the duck's
blows with his sharp spurs so fiercely that she soon began to cry out
for mercy; which was only granted her upon condition that she would
draw the carriage home for them. This she agreed to do; and
Chanticleer got upon the box, and drove, crying, 'Now, duck, get on as
fast as you can.' And away they went at a pretty good pace.
After they had travelled along a little way, they met a needle and a
Grimm's Fairy Tales |
