| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from In Darkest England and The Way Out by General William Booth: have made them this! Most potent effectual for all work whatsoever,
is wise planning, firm, combining, and commanding among men. Let no man
despair of Governments who looks on these two sentries at the Horse
Guards and our United Service clubs. I could conceive an Emigration
Service, a Teaching Service, considerable varieties of United and
Separate Services, of the due thousands strong, all effective as this
Fighting Service is; all doing their work like it--which work, much
more than fighting, is henceforth the necessity of these new ages we
are got into! Much lies among us, convulsively, nigh desperately,
struggling to be born."--("Past and Present," page 224.)
"It was well, all this, we know; and yet it was not well.
In Darkest England and The Way Out |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Mirror of the Sea by Joseph Conrad: at once, remembered my name, and in what ship I had served under
his orders. He looked me over from head to foot.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I am commanding a little barque," I said, "loading here for
Mauritius." Then, thoughtlessly, I added: "And what are you
doing, Mr. B-?"
"I," he said, looking at me unflinchingly, with his old sardonic
grin - "I am looking for something to do."
I felt I would rather have bitten out my tongue. His jet-black,
curly hair had turned iron-gray; he was scrupulously neat as ever,
but frightfully threadbare. His shiny boots were worn down at
The Mirror of the Sea |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart: she preceded me through the train, unconscious that I was behind her,
looking at each passenger as she passed. I fancied the proceeding
was distasteful, but that she had determined on a course and was
carrying it through. We reached the end of the train almost
together - empty-handed, both of us.
The girl went out to the platform. When she saw me she moved aside,
and I stepped out beside her. Behind us the track curved sharply;
the early sunshine threw the train, in long black shadow, over the
hot earth. Forward somewhere they were hammering. The girl said
nothing, but her profile was strained and anxious.
"I - if you have lost anything," I began, "I wish you would let me
The Man in Lower Ten |
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 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum: and when I came down I fell into a big crack in the earth, caused by
an earthquake. I had let so much gas out of my balloon that I could
not rise again, and in a few minutes the earth closed over my head.
So I continued to descend until I reached this place, and if you will
show me a way to get out of it, I'll go with pleasure. Sorry to have
troubled you; but it couldn't be helped."
The Prince had listened with attention. Said he:
"This child, who is from the crust of the earth, like yourself, called
you a Wizard. Is not a Wizard something like a Sorcerer?"
"It's better," replied Oz, promptly. "One Wizard is worth
three Sorcerers."
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz |
