| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll: after altering most of the pins. `But really you should have a
lady's maid!'
`I'm sure I'll take you with pleasure!' the Queen said.
`Twopence a week, and jam every other day.'
Alice couldn't help laughing, as she said, `I don't want you to
hire ME--and I don't care for jam.'
`It's very good jam,' said the Queen.
`Well, I don't want any TO-DAY, at any rate.'
`You couldn't have it if you DID want it,' the Queen said.
`The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday--but never jam
to-day.'
Through the Looking-Glass |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Rig Veda: When night hath passed, O ye who send us plenteous food.
O Asvins, Heroes, let your car, famed, best to travel, come
to us,
And, for his glory, mark your zealous servant's lauds.
5 Asvins, who send us precious gifts, even when offended, think
of
him:
For ye, O Rudras, lead us safe beyond our foes.
6 For, Wonder-Workers, with fleet steeds ye fly completely
round this
All,
The Rig Veda |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: treated with him concerning his being reconciled to the church.
After much discourse about the matter, the Jesuit very sincerely
told him, that unless he would quit the communion of the Church
of England, he could not be received into the Catholic Church.
The duke then said he thought it might be done by a dispensation
from the pope, alleging the singularity of his case, and the
advantage it might bring to the catholic religion in general, and
in particular to those of it in England, if he might have such
dispensation for outwardly appearing a protestant, at least till
he could own himself publicly to be a catholic, with more
security to his own person and advantage to them. But the father
|
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 Seraphita by Honore de Balzac: incomprehensible revelation,--the last effulgence of faith that has
shone upon our lump of mud. Do you know Swedenborg?"
"By name only,--of him, of his books, and his religion I know
nothing."
"Then I must relate to you the whole chronicle of Swedenborg."
CHAPTER III
SERAPHITA-SERAPHITUS
After a pause, during which the pastor seemed to be gathering his
recollections, he continued in the following words:--
"Emanuel Swedenborg was born at Upsala in Sweden, in the month of
January, 1688, according to various authors,--in 1689, according to
Seraphita |
