| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne: cottage, - and happy is the sharer of it, - and happy are the lambs
which sport about you!
THE SUPPER.
A SHOE coming loose from the fore foot of the thill-horse, at the
beginning of the ascent of mount Taurira, the postilion dismounted,
twisted the shoe off, and put it in his pocket; as the ascent was
of five or six miles, and that horse our main dependence, I made a
point of having the shoe fastened on again, as well as we could;
but the postilion had thrown away the nails, and the hammer in the
chaise box being of no great use without them, I submitted to go
on.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy: the last meeting or two what I was feeling about you. I admit
that our meeting as strangers prevented a sense of relationship,
and that it was a sort of subterfuge to avail myself of it.
But don't you think l deserve a little consideration for concealing
my wrong, very wrong, sentiments, since I couldn't help
having them?"
She turned her eyes doubtfully towards him, and then looked away
as if afraid she might forgive him.
By every law of nature and sex a kiss was the only rejoinder that fitted
the mood and the moment, under the suasion of which Sue's undemonstrative
regard of him might not inconceivably have changed its temperature.
Jude the Obscure |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Tanach: Jeremiah 14: 1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts.
Jeremiah 14: 2 Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they bow down in black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.
Jeremiah 14: 3 And their nobles send their lads for water: they come to the pits, and find no water; their vessels return empty; they are ashamed and confounded, and cover their heads.
Jeremiah 14: 4 Because of the ground which is cracked, for there hath been no rain in the land, the plowmen are ashamed, they cover their heads.
Jeremiah 14: 5 Yea, the hind also in the field calveth, and forsaketh her young, because there is no grass,
Jeremiah 14: 6 And the wild asses stand on the high hills, they gasp for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage.
Jeremiah 14: 7 Though our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, work Thou for Thy name's sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against Thee.
Jeremiah 14: 8 O Thou hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest Thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?
Jeremiah 14: 9 Why shouldest thou be as a man overcome, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet Thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and Thy name is called upon us; leave us not.
Jeremiah 14: 10 Thus saith the LORD unto this people: Even so have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet; therefore the LORD doth not accept them, now will He remember their iniquity, and punish their sins.
The Tanach |
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 Cavalry General by Xenophon: cavalry unaided by light infantry, as opposed to cavalry with foot-
soldiers attached.[11] It is duty also, having got his footmen, to
turn the force to good account. It is possible to conceal them
effectively, not only between the lines, but in rear also of the
troopers--the mounted soldier towering high above his follower on
foot.
[11] Or, "divorced from infantry." In reference to {amippoi}, cf.
Thuc. v. 57; "Hell." VII. v. 23.
With regard to these devices and to any others which invention may
suggest towards capturing the foeman by force or fraud, I have one
common word of advice to add, which is, to act with God, and then
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