| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: Two hours later, what had been the erect image of a gigantic
coal-porter turned miraculously white, was now no more than a
medley of disjected members; the quadragenarian torso prone
against the pedestal; the lascivious countenance leering down the
kitchen stair; the legs, the arms, the hands, and even the
fingers, scattered broadcast on the lobby floor. Half an hour
more, and all the debris had been laboriously carted to the
kitchen; and Morris, with a gentle sentiment of triumph, looked
round upon the scene of his achievements. Yes, he could deny all
knowledge of it now: the lobby, beyond the fact that it was
partly ruinous, betrayed no trace of the passage of Hercules. But
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: between them both, save in truth. And, verily, the Hour is surely
coming; then do thou pardon with a fair pardon,
Verily, thy Lord He is the creator, the knowing! We have already
brought thee Seven of the Repetition, and the mighty Koran.
Let not thine eyes strain after what we have allowed a few pairs
of them to enjoy, nor grieve for them; but lower thy wing to the
believers, and say, 'Verily, I am an obvious warner.'
As we sent down (punishment) on the separatists who dismember the
Koran.
But, by thy Lord! we will question them, one and all, about what
they have done.
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy: To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free:
we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not
have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny.
We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view.
But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their
own freedom. . .and to remember that. . .in the past. . .those who
foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.
To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe
struggling to break the bonds of mass misery: we pledge our best
efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period
is required. . .not because the Communists may be doing it,
|
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 Another Study of Woman by Honore de Balzac: Oudet sketched by Charles Nodier, I found my own sensations in every
one of his elegant phrases. Italian, then, as were most of the
officers of his regiment, which had, in fact, been borrowed by the
Emperor from Eugene's army, my colonel was a tall man, at least eight
or nine inches above the standard, and was admirably proportioned--a
little stout perhaps, but prodigiously powerful, active, and clean-
limbed as a greyhound. His black hair in abundant curls showed up his
complexion, as white as a woman's; he had small hands, a shapely foot,
a pleasant mouth, and an aquiline nose delicately formed, of which the
tip used to become naturally pinched and white whenever he was angry,
as happened often. His irascibility was so far beyond belief that I
|
