| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott: And with tears falling thick and fast upon their tender leaves,
Violet laid the wreath at his feet, while the golden light grew ever
brighter as it fell upon the little form so humbly kneeling there.
The King's stern face grew milder as he gazed on the gentle Fairy,
and the flowers seemed to look beseechingly upon him; while their
fragrant voices sounded softly in his ear, telling of their dying
sisters, and of the joy it gives to bring happiness to the weak
and sorrowing. But he drew the dark mantle closer over his breast
and answered coldly,--
"I cannot grant your prayer, little Fairy; it is my will
the flowers should die. Go back to your Queen, and tell her
Flower Fables |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: this time we hold the same little advisable, in respect that your
ill-willers may, according to the custom of such persons, impute
motives for your journey, whereof, although we know and believe
you to be as clear as ourselves, yet natheless their words may
find credence in places where the belief in them may much
prejudice you, and which we should see with more unwillingness
and displeasure than with means of remedy
"Having thus, as becometh our kindred, given you our poor mind
on the subject of your journeying forth of Scotland, we would
willingly add reasons of weight, which might materially
advantage you and your father's house, thereby to determine you
The Bride of Lammermoor |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Daisy Miller by Henry James: him the honor to be so agitated by the announcement of his movements.
His companion, after this, ceased to pay any attention to the
curiosities of Chillon or the beauties of the lake; she opened fire
upon the mysterious charmer in Geneva whom she appeared to have
instantly taken it for granted that he was hurrying back to see.
How did Miss Daisy Miller know that there was a charmer in Geneva?
Winterbourne, who denied the existence of such a person,
was quite unable to discover, and he was divided between amazement
at the rapidity of her induction and amusement at the frankness
of her persiflage. She seemed to him, in all this,
an extraordinary mixture of innocence and crudity. "Does she never
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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 Wyoming by William MacLeod Raine: by his very wariness defeated his purpose of eluding observation.
For a pair of keen eyes from the hotel office glimpsed the figure
stealing past so noiselessly, and promptly followed up the
stairway.
"Hope I don't intrude at this happy family gathering."
Helen, who had been pouring a glass of cordial for the spent and
wounded sheepman, put the glass down on the table and turned at
sound of the silken, sinister voice. After one glance at the
vindictive face, from the cold eyes of which hate seemed to
smolder, she took an instinctive step toward her lover. The cold
wave that drenched her heart accompanied an assurance that the
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