| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy: All the ancient men ran in a jumbled throng after
her to the clover-field, Joseph sinking down in the
midst when about half-way, like an individual withering
in a world which was more and more insupportable.
Having once received the stimulus that her presence
always gave them they went round among the sheep
with a will. The majority of the afflicted animals were
lying down, and could not be stirred. These were
bodily lifted out, and the others driven into the adjoining
field. Here, after the lapse of a few minutes, several
more fell down, and lay helpless and livid as the rest.
Far From the Madding Crowd |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Vision Splendid by William MacLeod Raine: Anyhow it was an unavoidable accident."
The eyes of the young woman kindled. "I'll never forget the way
you jumped to save him. It was splendid."
James flushed with pleasure. "Nonsense. I merely pushed him
aside."
"You merely risked your life for his. A bagatelle--don't mention
it," the girl mocked.
Farnum nodded, the old warmth for her in his eyes. "All right,
I'll take all the praise you want to give me. It's been a good
while since you have thought I deserved any."
Alice looked out of the window in a silence that appeared to
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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 The Koran: my brother; gird up my loins through him, and join him with me in
the affair; that we may celebrate Thy praises much and remember Thee
much.
Verily, Thou dost ever behold us!'
He said, 'Thou art granted thy request, O Moses! and we have already
shown favours unto thee at another time. When we inspired thy mother
with what we inspired her, "Hurl him into the ark, and hurl him into
the sea; and the sea shall cast him on the shore, and an enemy of mine
and of his shall take him;"-for on thee have I cast my love, that thou
mayest be formed under my eye. When thy sister walked on and said,
"Shall I guide you to one who will take charge of him?" And we
The Koran |
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 Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther: that we do not contemn these preparations, but set the highest
value on them; a belief in them we do contemn, because no one
thinks that they constitute a real and permanent structure. If
any one were so manifestly out of his senses as to have no other
object in life but that of setting up these preparations with all
possible expense, diligence, and perseverance, while he never
thought of the structure itself, but pleased himself and made his
boast of these useless preparations and props, should we not all
pity his madness and think that, at the cost thus thrown away,
some great building might have been raised?
Thus, too, we do not contemn works and ceremonies--nay, we set
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