| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: let me pursue mine, sure that I can meet with no worse misfortune
after the moment it divides me from your side."
Lucy wept on, but her tears were less bitter. Each attempt
which the Master made to explain his purpose of departure only
proved a new evidence of his desire to stay; until, at length,
instead of bidding her farewell, he gave his faith to her for
ever, and received her troth in return. The whole passed so
suddenly, and arose so much out of the immediate impulse of the
moment, that ere the Master of Ravenswood could reflect upon the
consequences of the step which he had taken, their lips, as well
as their hands, had pledged the sincerity of their affection.
The Bride of Lammermoor |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: don't ask for the impossible. He was born to be laughed at."
"Yes," I cried. "But don't let yourself go."
I don't know whether Ortega heard us. He was exerting then his
utmost strength of lung against the infamous plot to expose him to
the derision of the fiendish associates of that obscene woman! . .
. Then he began another interlude upon the door, so sustained and
strong that I had the thought that this was growing absurdly
impossible, that either the plaster would begin to fall off the
ceiling or he would drop dead next moment, out there.
He stopped, uttered a few curses at the door, and seemed calmer
from sheer exhaustion.
The Arrow of Gold |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Master Key by L. Frank Baum: along new lines, and some of them may soon give these or similar
inventions to the world."
"You are satisfied, then?" asked Rob.
"As to that," returned the Demon, composedly, "I am not. But I have
hopes that with the addition of the three marvelous devices I shall
present you with to-day you will succeed in arousing so much popular
interest in electrical inventions as to render me wholly satisfied
with the result of this experiment."
Rob regarded the brilliant apparition with a solemn face,
but made no answer.
"No living person," continued the Demon, "has ever before been favored
The Master Key |
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 Stories From the Old Attic by Robert Harris: marked, "Do Not Disturb."
Viewing the sign as an affront to his authority, he applied Chapter
Two of the assertiveness training book he had just finished and
quickly opened the door with determination and a scowl.
What he saw was not what he expected. Near the door was a boom box,
playing very lively but not overly loud classical music. Directly
in front of him across the room he saw the young woman, barefoot and
wearing, instead of her business attire, purple sweatpants and a
torn green sweatshirt. Worse than this, she was turning cartwheels
and saying what sounded to him like, "Put it in the lake, dip it,
water proof it, French dip it, soak it, drench it, pinch it, wrench
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