| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Charmides by Plato: misunderstood them; for they imagined that 'Know thyself!' was a piece of
advice which the god gave, and not his salutation of the worshippers at
their first coming in; and they dedicated their own inscription under the
idea that they too would give equally useful pieces of advice. Shall I
tell you, Socrates, why I say all this? My object is to leave the previous
discussion (in which I know not whether you or I are more right, but, at
any rate, no clear result was attained), and to raise a new one in which I
will attempt to prove, if you deny, that temperance is self-knowledge.
Yes, I said, Critias; but you come to me as though I professed to know
about the questions which I ask, and as though I could, if I only would,
agree with you. Whereas the fact is that I enquire with you into the truth
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum: territory that is inhabited by terrible, lawless people."
"It may be, and it may not be," said the Wizard. "We shall know when
we get there."
"Well," persisted the shepherd, "in a fairy country such as ours,
every undiscovered place is likely to harbor wicked creatures. If
they were not wicked, they would discover themselves and by coming
among us submit to Ozma's rule and be good and considerate, as are all
the Oz people whom we know."
"That argument," stated the little Wizard, "convinces me that it is
our duty to go straight to those unknown places, however dangerous
they may be, for it is surely some cruel and wicked person who has
The Lost Princess of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: why, his very soul revolts.
In sober truth my soul remained in revolt though I was convinced
that I was no longer dreaming. I watched Therese coming away from
the window with that helpless dread a man bound hand and foot may
be excused to feel. For in such a situation even the absurd may
appear ominous. She came up close to the bed and folding her hands
meekly in front of her turned her eyes up to the ceiling.
"If I had been her daughter she couldn't have spoken more softly to
me," she said sentimentally.
I made a great effort to speak.
"Mademoiselle Therese, you are raving."
The Arrow of Gold |
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 St. Ives by Robert Louis Stevenson: about the doors of the inn. At these evidences of so much travel
on the road I was seized with a misgiving lest it should be
impossible to get horses, and I should be detained in the
precarious neighbourhood of my cousin. Hungry as I was, I made my
way first of all to the postmaster, where he stood - a big,
athletic, horsey-looking man, blowing into a key in the corner of
the yard.
On my making my modest request, he awoke from his indifference into
what seemed passion.
'A po'-shay and 'osses!' he cried. 'Do I look as if I 'ad a po'-
shay and 'osses? Damn me, if I 'ave such a thing on the premises.
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