Today's Stichomancy for John Von Neumann

The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tanach:

Job 41: 31 (41:23) He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a seething mixture.

Job 41: 32 (41:24) He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.

Job 41: 33 (41:25) Upon earth there is not his like, who is made to be fearless.

Job 41: 34 (41:26) He looketh at all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts.

Job 42: 1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said:

Job 42: 2 I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no purpose can be withholden from Thee.

Job 42: 3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

Job 42: 4 Hear, I beseech Thee, and I will speak; I will demand of Thee, and declare Thou unto me.

Job 42: 5 I had heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth Thee;

Job 42: 6 Wherefore I abhor my words, and repent, seeing I am dust and ashes.

Job 42: 7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not s

The Tanach

The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Poems of William Blake by William Blake:

O virgin know'st thou not our steeds drink of the golden springs Where Luvah doth renew his horses: lookst thou on my youth. And fearest thou because I vanish and am seen no more. Nothing remains; O maid I tell thee, when I pass away. It is to tenfold life, to love, to peace, and raptures holy: Unseen descending, weigh my light wings upon balmy flowers: And court the fair eyed dew, to take me to her shining tent The weeping virgin, trembling kneels before the risen sun. Till we arise link'd in a golden band and never part: But walk united bearing food to all our tender flowers.

Dost thou O little cloud? I fear that I am not like thee:

Poems of William Blake

The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Dreams & Dust by Don Marquis:

There's a spirit almost prim In the feet that move so surely, So discreetly, to the chime Of the music that so sweetly Marks the time.

But the chords begin to tinkle Quicker, And your feet they flash and flicker-- Twinkle!-- Flash and flutter to a tricksy Fickle meter;

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 In the Cage by Henry James:

as bad as his asking her to supper. "You mustn't come with me--no, no!"

He sank back, quite blank, as if she had pushed him. "I mayn't see you home?"

"No, no; let me go." He looked almost as if she had struck him, but she didn't care; and the manner in which she spoke--it was literally as if she were angry--had the force of a command. "Stay where you are!"

"See here--see here!" he nevertheless pleaded.

"I won't give you up!" she cried once more--this time quite with passion; on which she got away from him as fast as she could and