| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela: Blondie appeared; he had just got up. His blue eyes
blinked under heavy lids; his voice rang hoarse. He asked
what had occurred; someone explained. Then he went
up to War Paint, and with great seriousness, said:
"Yes? Really? Well, if you want my opinion, I think
this is just what ought to happen. So far as I'm con-
cerned, you can go straight to hell. We're all fed up
with you, see?"
War Paint's face turned to granite; she tried to speak
but her muscles were rigid.
The soldiers laughed. Camilla, terrified, held her breath.
The Underdogs |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Sa: mere oak tree by little Indian girls and boys.
Manstin, with his own bright eyes fitted into his head again,
went on happily to hunt in the North country.
THE WARLIKE SEVEN
THE WARLIKE SEVEN
ONCE seven people went out to make war,--the Ashes, the Fire,
the Bladder, the Grasshopper, the Dragon Fly, the Fish, and the
Turtle. As they were talking excitedly, waving their fists in
violent gestures, a wind came and blew the Ashes away. "Ho!" cried
the others, "he could not fight, this one!"
The six went on running to make war more quickly. They
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley: a pollock.
How do you know that?
Why, it is running along the top of the water like a snake; and
they never do that. Here it comes. It has got a long beak, like
a snipe. Oh, let me see.
See if you like: but don't get in the way. Remember you are but
a little boy.
What is it? a snake with a bird's head?
No: a snake has no fins; and look at its beak: it is full of
little teeth, which no bird has. But a very curious fellow he is,
nevertheless: and his name is Gar-fish. Some call him Green-
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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 Alcibiades II by Platonic Imitator: ALCIBIADES: Certainly.
SOCRATES: There are cobblers and carpenters and sculptors and others of
all sorts and kinds, whom we need not stop to enumerate. All have their
distinct employments and all are workmen, although they are not all of them
cobblers or carpenters or sculptors.
ALCIBIADES: No, indeed.
SOCRATES: And in like manner men differ in regard to want of sense. Those
who are most out of their wits we call 'madmen,' while we term those who
are less far gone 'stupid' or 'idiotic,' or, if we prefer gentler language,
describe them as 'romantic' or 'simple-minded,' or, again, as 'innocent' or
'inexperienced' or 'foolish.' You may even find other names, if you seek
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