The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche: --Not riddle enough to scare human love from it, not solution enough to put
to sleep human wisdom:--a humanly good thing was the world to me to-day, of
which such bad things are said!
How I thank my morning-dream that I thus at to-day's dawn, weighed the
world! As a humanly good thing did it come unto me, this dream and heart-
comforter!
And that I may do the like by day, and imitate and copy its best, now will
I put the three worst things on the scales, and weigh them humanly well.--
He who taught to bless taught also to curse: what are the three best
cursed things in the world? These will I put on the scales.
VOLUPTUOUSNESS, PASSION FOR POWER, and SELFISHNESS: these three things
Thus Spake Zarathustra |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Moon-Face and Other Stories by Jack London: their living that way. Many are excellently paid. Some are free rovers, doing
a turn wherever they can get an opening, at the Obermann, the Orpheus, the
Alcatraz, the Louvre, and so forth and so forth. Others cover circuit pretty
well all over the country. An interesting phase of life, and the pay is big
enough to attract many aspirants.
"Now the management of the Loops, in its bid for popularity, instituted what
is called 'Amateur Night'; that is to say, twice a week, after the
professionals have done their turns, the stage is given over to the aspiring
amateurs. The audience remains to criticise. The populace becomes the arbiter
of art--or it thinks it does, which is the same thing; and it pays its money
and is well pleased with itself, and Amateur Night is a paying proposition 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 Psychology of Revolution by Gustave le Bon: collectivity upon the individuals who compose it is the
unification of their sentiments and wills. This psychological
unity confers a remarkable force upon crowds.
The formation of such a mental unity results chiefly from the
fact that in a crowd gestures and actions are extremely
contagious. Acclamations of hatred, fury, or love are
immediately approved and repeated.
What is the origin of these common sentiments, this common will?
They are propagated by contagion, but a point of departure is
necessary before this contagion can take effect. Without a
leader the crowd is an amorphous entity incapable of action.
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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 The Koran: warner; and there is no nation but its warner has passed away with it.
And if they called thee liar, those before thee called their
apostles liars too, who came to them with manifest signs, and the
Scriptures, and the illuminating Book.
Then I seized those who misbelieved, and what a change it was!
Dost thou not see that God has sent down from the heaven water,
and has brought forth therewith fruits varied in hue, and on the
mountains dykes, white and red, various in hue, and some intensely
black, and men and beasts and cattle, various in hue? thus! none
fear God but the wise among His servants; but, verily, God is
mighty, forgiving.
The Koran |