| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: simply wish to refuse allegiance to the State, to withdraw
and stand aloof from it effectually. I do not care to trace
the course of my dollar, if I could, till it buys a man a
musket to shoot one with--the dollar is innocent--but I am
concerned to trace the effects of my allegiance. In fact, I
quietly declare war with the State, after my fashion, though
I will still make use and get what advantages of her I can,
as is usual in such cases.
If others pay the tax which is demanded of me, from a
sympathy with the State, they do but what they have already
done in their own case, or rather they abet injustice to a
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Adieu by Honore de Balzac: lovers!--Philippe would feed her with sugarplums. Then, having eaten
those that he gave her, she would often search his pockets with
gestures that had all the mechanical velocity of a monkey's motions.
When she was very sure there was nothing more, she looked at Philippe
with clear eyes, without ideas, with recognition. Then she would play
with him, trying at times to take off his boots to see his feet,
tearing his gloves, putting on his hat; she would even let him pass
his hands through her hair, and take her in his arms; she accepted,
but without pleasure, his ardent kisses. She would look at him
silently, without emotion, when his tears flowed; but she always
understood his "Partant pour la Syrie," when he whistled it, though he
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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 The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: of his way, as young apes should when their betters were
about, and the old bulls made no attempt to encroach upon
his prerogatives. For several days the she-apes with young
remained suspicious of him, and when he ventured too near
rushed upon him with wide mouths and hideous roars.
Then Tarzan discreetly skipped out of harm's way, for
that also is a custom among the apes--only mad bulls will
attack a mother. But after a while even they became
accustomed to him.
He hunted with them as in days gone by, and when they
found that his superior reason guided him to the best food
The Return of Tarzan |
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 Lay Morals by Robert Louis Stevenson: been found unawares bathing, and had blushed from head to
foot. She was of a grave countenance, rarely smiling; yet it
seemed to be written upon every part of her that she rejoiced
in life. Her husband loved the heels of her feet and the
knuckles of her fingers; he loved her like a glutton and a
brute; his love hung about her like an atmosphere; one that
came by chance into the wine-shop was aware of that passion;
and it might be said that by the strength of it the woman had
been drugged or spell-bound. She knew not if she loved or
loathed him; he was always in her eyes like something
monstrous - monstrous in his love, monstrous in his person,
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