| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe: in September, generally died in two or three days at furthest, and
many the very same day they were taken; whether the dog-days, or, as
our astrologers pretended to express themselves, the influence of the
dog-star, had that malignant effect, or all those who had the seeds of
infection before in them brought it up to a maturity at that time
altogether, I know not; but this was the time when it was reported that
above 3000 people died in one night; and they that would have us
believe they more critically observed it pretend to say that they all
died within the space of two hours, viz., between the hours of one and
three in the morning.
As to the suddenness of people's dying at this time, more than
A Journal of the Plague Year |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from I Have A Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.: governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of
interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a
situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to
join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk
together as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted,
every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places
will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight,
and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall
see it together.
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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 Blix by Frank Norris: up his sheaf of manuscript, and put on his coat; "what do I do it
for, I don't know."
It was beyond question that, had he begun his novel three months
before this time, Condy would have long since abandoned the
hateful task. But Blix had changed all that. A sudden male force
had begun to develop in Condy. A master-emotion had shaken him,
and he had commenced to see and to feel the serious, more abiding,
and perhaps the sterner side of life. Blix had steadied him,
there was no denying that. He was not quite the same boyish,
hairbrained fellow who had made "a buffoon of himself" in the
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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 The Iliad by Homer: danger; life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a
razor. Go then, for you are younger than I, and of your courtesy
rouse Ajax and the fleet son of Phyleus."
Diomed threw the skin of a great tawny lion about his shoulders--
a skin that reached his feet--and grasped his spear. When he had
roused the heroes, he brought them back with him; they then went
the round of those who were on guard, and found the captains not
sleeping at their posts but wakeful and sitting with their arms
about them. As sheep dogs that watch their flocks when they are
yarded, and hear a wild beast coming through the mountain forest
towards them--forthwith there is a hue and cry of dogs and men,
The Iliad |
