| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain: what the screwdriver was in the carpet-bag for.
Well, it was a most exciting time, take it all around,
and Tom got cords of glory. The judge took the di'monds,
and stood up in his pulpit, and cleared his throat,
and shoved his spectacles back on his head, and says:
"I'll keep them and notify the owners; and when they
send for them it will be a real pleasure to me to hand
you the two thousand dollars, for you've earned the
money--yes, and you've earned the deepest and most
sincerest thanks of this community besides, for lifting
a wronged and innocent family out of ruin and shame,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: sins, which are heavier than the sand, be forgiven; sins, which,
wittingly or unwittingly, I have sinned from childhood upwards to
this my hoary age."
When the king's son heard these words, immediately he arose, and
his heart waxed warm, and he began to try to raise Nachor's
courage which was drooping to despair, and to confirm it in the
faith of Christ, saying, "Let no doubt about this, Nachor, find
place in thy mind. For it is written, God is able of these very
stones to raise up children unto Abraham. What meaneth this (as
father Barlaam said) except that men beyond hope, stained with
all manner of wickedness, can be saved, and become servants of
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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 Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: same age as my Seryozha," she added, addressing the little girl
as she ran in. She took her in her arms and kissed her.
"Delightful child, delightful! Show me them all."
She mentioned them, not only remembering the names, but the
years, months, characters, illnesses of all the children, and
Dolly could not but appreciate that.
"Very well, we will go to them," she said. "It's a pity Vassya's
asleep."
After seeing the children, they sat down, alone now, in the
drawing room, to coffee. Anna took the tray, and then pushed it
away from her.
Anna Karenina |
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 Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Always coughing like a squirrel.
"Ah, but beautiful within him
Was the spirit of Osseo,
From the Evening Star descended,
Star of Evening, Star of Woman,
Star of tenderness and passion!
All its fire was in his bosom,
All its beauty in his spirit,
All its mystery in his being,
All its splendor in his language!
"And her lovers, the rejected,
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