| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: Indifferent to his danger he was waiting for her. It was for her
only that he had come; and now as the time approached when he
should have his reward, she asked herself with dismay what meant
that chilling doubt of her own will and of her own desire? With
an effort she shook off the fear of the passing weakness. He
should have his reward. Her woman's love and her woman's honour
overcame the faltering distrust of that unknown future waiting
for her in the darkness of the river.
"No, you will not return," muttered Mrs. Almayer, prophetically.
"Without you he will not go, and if he remains here--" She waved
her hand towards the lights of "Almayer's Folly," and the
 Almayer's Folly |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Paradise Lost by John Milton: Imitate when we please? This desert soil
Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold;
Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more?
Our torments also may, in length of time,
Become our elements, these piercing fires
As soft as now severe, our temper changed
Into their temper; which must needs remove
The sensible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful counsels, and the settled state
Of order, how in safety best we may
 Paradise Lost |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf: watch open for a moment, deciding that he would tell her what he had
felt on the terrace. To begin with, it was not reasonable to be so
nervous. Andrew could look after himself. Then, he wanted to tell her
that when he was walking on the terrace just now--here he became
uncomfortable, as if he were breaking into that solitude, that
aloofness, that remoteness of hers... But she pressed him. What had
he wanted to tell her, she asked, thinking it was about going to the
Lighthouse; that he was sorry he had said "Damn you." But no. He did
not like to see her look so sad, he said. Only wool gathering, she
protested, flushing a little. They both felt uncomfortable, as if they
did not know whether to go on or go back. She had been reading fairy
 To the Lighthouse |