| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Essays of Francis Bacon by Francis Bacon: fore, I will not continue it; than this, I find no
offence of this, therefore I may use it. For strength
of nature in youth, passeth over many excesses,
which are owing a man till his age. Discern of the
coming on of years, and think not to do the same
things still; for age will not be defied. Beware of
sudden change, in any great point of diet, and, if
necessity enforce it, fit the rest to it. For it is a secret
both in nature and state, that it is safer to change
many things, than one. Examine thy customs of
diet, sleep, exercise, apparel, and the like; and try,
Essays of Francis Bacon |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Historical Lecturers and Essays by Charles Kingsley: "Take it away; I have no appetite now for my broth." Then she took
a great pair of tongs and tried to pull out the iron; but the wound
was swelled, and there was too little to lay hold of. Now said
Thormod, "Cut in so deep that thou canst get at the iron, and give
me the tongs." She did as he said. Then took Thormod the gold
bracelet off his hand and gave it the nurse-girl, and bade her do
with it what she liked.
"It is a good man's gift," said he. "King Olaf gave me the ring
this morning."
Then Thormod took the tongs and pulled the iron out. But on the
iron was a barb, on which hung flesh from the heart, some red, some
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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 The Underground City by Jules Verne: the natural pillars--all, whether suns or stars in size, were fed
by continuous currents produced from electro-magnetic machines.
When the hour of rest arrived, an artificial night was easily
produced all over the mine by disconnecting the wires.
Below the dome lay a lake of an extent to be compared to the Dead Sea
of the Mammoth caves--a deep lake whose transparent waters swarmed with
eyeless fish, and to which the engineer gave the name of Loch Malcolm.
There, in this immense natural excavation, Simon Ford built his
new cottage, which he would not have exchanged for the finest house
in Prince's Street, Edinburgh. This dwelling was situated on the shores
of the loch, and its five windows looked out on the dark waters,
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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 The Yates Pride by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: There was something rather magnificent in her whole appearance.
Her skirts of old, but rich, black fabric swept about her long,
advancing limbs; she held her black-bonneted head high, as if
crowned. She pushed the cumbersome baby-carriage with no
apparent effort. An ancient India shawl was draped about her
sloping shoulders.
Eudora, as she passed the Glynn house, turned her face slightly,
so that its pure oval was evident. She was now a beauty in late
middle life. Her hair, of an indeterminate shade, swept in soft
shadows over her ears; her features were regular; her expression
was at once regal and gentle. A charm which was neither of youth
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