| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbot: at supper, and the little Page in the scullery. Then I came here,
and how do you think I came?
I. Through the roof, I suppose.
STRANGER. Not so. Your roof, as you know very well,
has been recently repaired, and has no aperture by which even a Woman
could penetrate. I tell you I come from Space. Are you not convinced
by what I have told you of your children and household?
I. Your Lordship must be aware that such facts touching
the belongings of his humble servant might be easily ascertained
by any one in the neighbourhood possessing your Lordship's
ample means of obtaining information.
Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis: Here, whisky was served openly, in glasses. Two or three clerks, who on
pay-day longed to be taken for millionaires, sheepishly danced with
telephone-girls and manicure-girls in the narrow space between the tables.
Fantastically whirled the professionals, a young man in sleek evening-clothes
and a slim mad girl in emerald silk, with amber hair flung up as jaggedly as
flames. Babbitt tried to dance with her. He shuffled along the floor, too
bulky to be guided, his steps unrelated to the rhythm of the jungle music, and
in his staggering he would have fallen, had she not held him with supple
kindly strength. He was blind and deaf from prohibition-era alcohol; he could
not see the tables, the faces. But he was overwhelmed by the girl and her
young pliant warmth.
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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 Betty Zane by Zane Grey: playmates' faces, forgotten for years, were there looking at him from the dark
wall of his wigwam. There was Andrew's face; the faces of his other brothers;
the laughing face of his sister; the serene face of his mother. As he lay
there with the shadow of death over him sweet was the thought that soon he
would be reunited with that mother. The images faded slowly away, swallowed up
in the gloom. Suddenly a vision appeared to him. A radiant white light
illumined the lodge and shone full on the beautiful face of the Indian maiden
who had loved him so well. Myeerah's dark eyes were bright with an undying
love and her lips smiled hope.
A rude kick dispelled Isaac's dreams. A brawny savage pulled him to his feet
and pushed him outside of the lodge.
Betty Zane |
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 Hellenica by Xenophon: wide circuit of the walls needed a defence beyond the reach of their
still scanty numbers, they fell back in a compact body upon
Munychia.[6] Then the troops from the city poured into the Agora of
Hippodmus.[7] Here they formed in line, stretching along and filling
the street which leads to the temple of Artemis and the Bendideum.[8]
This line must have been at least fifty shields deep; and in this
formation they at once began to march up. As to the men of Phyle, they
too blocked the street at the opposite end, and facing the foe. They
presented only a thin line, not more than ten deep, though behind
these, certainly, were ranged a body of targeteers and light-armed
javelin men, who were again supported by an artillery of stone-
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