| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Moby Dick by Herman Melville: Lucifer. The firm tower, that is Ahab; the volcano, that is Ahab;
the courageous, the undaunted, and victorious fowl, that, too, is
Ahab; all are Ahab; and this round gold is but the image of the
rounder globe, which, like a magician's glass, to each and every man
in turn but mirrors back his own mysterious self. Great pains, small
gains for those who ask the world to solve them; it cannot solve
itself. Methinks now this coined sun wears a ruddy face; but see!
aye, he enters the sign of storms, the equinox! and but six months
before he wheeled out of a former equinox at Aries! From storm to
storm! So be it, then. Born in throes, 't is fit that man should
live in pains and die in pangs! So be it, then! Here's stout stuff
Moby Dick |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: senseless pleasure, worthy of lamentation and tears in the eyes
of those who have tasted of the sweets of the bliss beyond.'
"When the king heard this, he became as one dumb. He said, `Who
then are these men that live a life better than ours?' `All,'
said the chief-counsellor `who prefer the eternal to the
temporal.' Again, when the king desired to know what the eternal
might be the other replied, `A kingdom that knoweth no
succession, a life that is not subject unto death, riches that
dread no poverty: joy and gladness that have no share of grief
and vexation; perpetual peace free from all hatred and love of
strife. Blessed, thrice blessed are they that are found worthy
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Dust by Mr. And Mrs. Haldeman-Julius: skin, thought the girl, mercilessly. Didn't she know there was
such a thing as a powder puff? Women like that brought their own
troubles upon themselves, that's what they did. And she was an
old prude, too. Anyone could see with half an eye that she didn't
like the idea of Uncle Martin learning to dance--why, she didn't
even like his getting the Victrola--when it was just what both he
and Bill had been wanting. But for all that she was her aunt, her
own mother's sister and, poor dear, she was a good soul. It would
probably upset her awfully and besides, oh well, it just wasn't
right.
Before her mirror Rose blushed furiously, quite ashamed of the
|
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 Great God Pan by Arthur Machen: illness and death. I don't expect to have an answer for
another three weeks or a month. I thought I might as well
inquire whether Meyrick knew an Englishwoman named Herbert, and
if so, whether the doctor could give me any information about
her. But it's very possible that Meyrick fell in with her at
New York, or Mexico, or San Francisco; I have no idea as to the
extent or direction of his travels."
"Yes, and it's very possible that the woman may have
more than one name."
"Exactly. I wish I had thought of asking you to lend
me the portrait of her which you possess. I might have enclosed
The Great God Pan |
