| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Reason Discourse by Rene Descartes: to me that, in this way, I have found heavens, stars, an earth, and even
on the earth water, air, fire, minerals, and some other things of this
kind, which of all others are the most common and simple, and hence the
easiest to know. Afterwards when I wished to descend to the more
particular, so many diverse objects presented themselves to me, that I
believed it to be impossible for the human mind to distinguish the forms
or species of bodies that are upon the earth, from an infinity of others
which might have been, if it had pleased God to place them there, or
consequently to apply them to our use, unless we rise to causes through
their effects, and avail ourselves of many particular experiments.
Thereupon, turning over in my mind I the objects that had ever been
Reason Discourse |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dark Lady of the Sonnets by George Bernard Shaw: mouth of those whom God inspires. By that time you and I will be dust
beneath the feet of the horses, if indeed there be any horses then,
and men be still riding instead of flying. Now it may be that by then
your works will be dust also.
SHAKESPEAR. They will stand, madam: fear nor for that.
ELIZABETH. It may prove so. But of this I am certain (for I know my
countrymen) that until every other country in the Christian world,
even to barbarian Muscovy and the hamlets of the boorish Germans, have
its playhouse at the public charge, England will never adventure. And
she will adventure then only because it is her desire to be ever in
the fashion, and to do humbly and dutifully whatso she seeth everybody
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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 Heroes by Charles Kingsley: they passed from hand to hand, and great was the noise in the
hall of Polydectes.
Then Persons stood upon the threshold, and called to the king
by name. But none of the guests knew Perseus, for he was
changed by his long journey. He had gone out a boy, and he
was come home a hero; his eye shone like an eagle's, and his
beard was like a lion's beard, and he stood up like a wild
bull in his pride.
But Polydectes the wicked knew him, and hardened his heart
still more; and scornfully he called -
'Ah, foundling! have you found it more easy to promise than
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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 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum: one until there were no privates left. Jim and the buggy followed,
the old cab-horse being driven by Zeb while the Wizard stood up on the
seat and bowed his bald head right and left in answer to the cheers of
the people, who crowded thick about him.
Taken altogether the procession was a grand success, and when it had
returned to the palace the citizens crowded into the great Throne Room
to see the Wizard perform his tricks.
The first thing the little humbug did was to produce a tiny white
piglet from underneath his hat and pretend to pull it apart, making
two. This act he repeated until all of the nine tiny piglets were
visible, and they were so glad to get out of his pocket that they ran
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz |
