| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Heap O' Livin' by Edgar A. Guest: you'll wish you had.
Just sit down and write a letter -- it will make
their heart strings hum
With a tune of perfect gladness -- if you'll tell
them that you'll come.
AT SUGAR CAMP
At Sugar Camp the cook is kind
And laughs the laugh we knew as boys;
And there we slip away and find
Awaiting us the old-time joys.
The catbird calls the selfsame way
A Heap O' Livin' |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Confessio Amantis by John Gower: Wher a Norrice hir kepte and dihte. 1200
And after, for sche was so wys
That sche fond ferst in hire avis
The cloth makinge of wolle and lyn,
Men seiden that sche was divin,
And the goddesse of Sapience
Thei clepen hire in that credence.
Of the goddesse which Pallas
Is cleped sondri speche was.
On seith hire fader was Pallant,
Which in his time was geant, 1210
Confessio Amantis |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: does not go, I cannot. I cannot be the only woman.
I would not, upon any account in the world, do so improper
a thing."
"Catherine, you must go," said James.
"But why cannot Mr. Thorpe drive one of his other
sisters? I dare say either of them would like to go."
"Thank ye," cried Thorpe, "but I did not come to Bath
to drive my sisters about, and look like a fool. No, if you
do not go, d-- me if I do. I only go for the sake of driving you."
"That is a compliment which gives me no pleasure."
But her words were lost on Thorpe, who had turned
Northanger Abbey |
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 Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: then Wolf pretended he had no son, and no one at home dared speak
to him about his son, and Vladimir Vasilievitch Wolf was firmly
convinced that he had arranged his family life in the best way.
Wolf stopped pacing up and down his study, and greeted Nekhludoff
with a friendly though slightly ironical smile. This was his way
of showing how comme il faut he was, and how superior to the
majority of men. He read the note which Nekhludoff handed to him.
"Please take a seat, and excuse me if I continue to walk up and
down, with your permission," he said, putting his hands into his
coat pockets, and began again to walk with light, soft steps
across his large, quietly and stylishly furnished study. "Very
Resurrection |
