| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: wantonness, etc. But carnal lust is not the only work of the flesh, and so he
counts among the works of the flesh also idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, and
the like. These terms are so familiar that they do not require lengthy
explanations.
IDOLATRY
The best religion, the most fervent devotion without Christ is plain
idolatry. It has been considered a holy act when the monks in their cells
meditate upon God and His works, and in a religious frenzy kneel down
to pray and to weep for joy. Yet Paul calls it simply idolatry. Every religion
which worships God in ignorance or neglect of His Word and will is
idolatry.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Several Works by Edgar Allan Poe: too late. Your cough--"
"It is nothing," he said; "let us go on. But first, another
draught of the Medoc."
I broke and reached him a flagon of De Grave. He emptied it
at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and
threw the bottle upwards with a gesticulation I did not understand.
I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement--a
grotesque one.
"You do not comprehend?" he said.
"Not I," I replied.
"Then you are not of the brotherhood."
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Study of a Woman by Honore de Balzac: the evening. He danced, played at ecarte, lost some money, and went
home to bed. I have the honor to assure you that the affair happened
precisely thus. I add nothing, and I suppress nothing.
The next morning Rastignac woke late and stayed in bed, giving himself
up to one of those matutinal reveries in the course of which a young
man glides like a sylph under many a silken, or cashmere, or cotton
drapery. The heavier the body from its weight of sleep, the more
active the mind. Rastignac finally got up, without yawning over-much
as many ill-bred persons are apt to do. He rang for his valet, ordered
tea, and drank immoderately of it when it came; which will not seem
extraordinary to persons who like tea; but to explain the circumstance
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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 Moon-Face and Other Stories by Jack London: nature of the premonition he had received, trying to locate the source of the
mysterious force that had warned him, striving to sense the imperative
presence of the unseen thing that threatened him. There is an aura of things
hostile, made manifest by messengers refined for the senses to know; and this
aura he felt, but knew not how he felt it. His was the feeling as when a cloud
passes over the sun. It seemed that between him and life had passed something
dark and smothering and menacing; a gloom, as it were, that swallowed up life
and made for death--his death.
Every force of his being impelled him to spring up and confront the unseen
danger, but his soul dominated the panic, and he remained squatting on his
heels, in his hands a chunk of gold. He did not dare to look around, but he
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