| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Miracle Mongers and Their Methods by Harry Houdini: of his hams, without altering the
bending of his leg.
4. He broke such another bowl between
his first and second finger, by pressing his
fingers together side-ways.
5. He lifted a table six feet long, which
had half a hundred weight hanging to the
end of it, with his teeth, and held it in a
horizontal position for a considerable
time. IT IS TRUE THE FEET OF THE TABLE RESTED
AGAINST HIS KNEES; BUT AS THE LENGTH OF THE
 Miracle Mongers and Their Methods |
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 Muse of the Department by Honore de Balzac: Mayor's office as the son of Monsieur and Madame de la Baudraye,
unknown to Etienne, who, on his part, rushed off to a printer's to
have this circular set up:
/"Madame la Baronne de la Baudraye is happily delivered of a son.
"Monsieur Etienne Lousteau has the pleasure of informing you of
the fact.
"The mother and child are doing well."/
Lousteau had already sent out sixty of these announcements when
Monsieur de Clagny, on coming to make inquiries, happened to see the
list of persons at Sancerre to whom Lousteau proposed to send this
amazing notice, written below the names of the persons in Paris to
 The Muse of the Department |