| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: whole world. You hate those who have faith, because faith is an
expression of ignorance and lack of culture, and at the same time
you hate those who have no faith for having no faith and no
ideals; you hate old people for being conservative and behind the
times, and young people for free-thinking. The interests of the
peasantry and of Russia are dear to you, and so you hate the
peasants because you suspect every one of them of being a thief
and a robber. You hate every one. You are just, and always take
your stand on your legal rights, and so you are always at law
with the peasants and your neighbours. You have had twenty
bushels of rye stolen, and your love of order has made you
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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: to tell us, you had better have kept this family secret to
yourself also."
"You will pardon me, Sir William," said the lady, calmly; "the
noble Marquis has a right to know the cause of the treatment I
have found it necessary to use to a gentleman whom he calls his
blood-relation."
"It is a cause," muttered the Lord Keeper, "which has emerged
since the effect has taken place; for, if it exists at all, I am
sure she knew nothing of it when her letter to
Ravenswood was written."
"It is the first time that I have heard of this," said the
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 Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte: me sick; and if I were not actually obliged to leave the church in
the middle of the service, my devotions were disturbed with a
feeling of languor and sickliness, and the tormenting fear of its
becoming worse: and a depressing headache was generally my
companion throughout the day, which would otherwise have been one
of welcome rest, and holy, calm enjoyment.
'It's very odd, Miss Grey, that the carriage should always make you
sick: it never makes ME,' remarked Miss Matilda,
'Nor me either,' said her sister; 'but I dare say it would, if I
sat where she does - such a nasty, horrid place, Miss Grey; I
wonder how you can bear it!'
Agnes Grey |
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 Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis: room that was interesting, there was nothing that was offensive. It was as
neat, and as negative, as a block of artificial ice. The fireplace was
unsoftened by downy ashes or by sooty brick; the brass fire-irons were of
immaculate polish; and the grenadier andirons were like samples in a shop,
desolate, unwanted, lifeless things of commerce.
Against the wall was a piano, with another piano-lamp, but no one used it save
Tinka. The hard briskness of the phonograph contented them; their store of
jazz records made them feel wealthy and cultured; and all they knew of
creating music was the nice adjustment of a bamboo needle. The books on the
table were unspotted and laid in rigid parallels; not one corner of the
carpet-rug was curled; and nowhere was there a hockey-stick, a torn
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