| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Rivers to the Sea by Sara Teasdale: With their gew-gaws still in their hands,
Reeling with odorous breath
And thick, coarse words on their tongues.
They get them to bed, somehow,
RIVERS TO THE SEA
And sleep the forgiving,
Comes thru the scattering tumult
And closes their eyes.
The stars sink down ashamed
And the dawn awakes,
Like a youth who steals from a brothel,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Complete Angler by Izaak Walton: gravel, and shallows where fish may sport themselves, do afford fish of
the purest taste. And note, that in all pools it is best for fish to have
some retiring place; as namely, hollow banks, or shelves, or roots of
trees, to keep them from danger, and, when they think fit, from the
extreme heat of summer; as also from the extremity of cold in winter.
And note, that if many trees be growing about your pond, the leaves
thereof falling into the water, make it nauseous to the fish, and the fish
to be so to the eater of it.
'Tis noted, that the Tench and Eel love mud; and the Carp loves
gravelly ground, and in the hot months to feed on grass. You are to
cleanse your pond, if you intend either profit or pleasure, once every
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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 Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy: Theodorite was the grown-up son of the house,
and a ne'er-do-well. His name was Theodore,
but some one had once called him Theodorite
either as a joke or to tease him; and, as it seemed
funny, the name stuck to him, although his doings
were no longer in the least amusing. So it was
now. He had been to the university, but left it
in his second year, and joined a regiment of horse
guards; but he gave that up also, and was now
living in the country, doing nothing, finding fault,
and feeling discontented with everything. Theo-
The Forged Coupon |
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 Koran: you as believe; but those who are by the ears with the Apostle of God,
for them is grievous woe!
They swear by God to please you; but God and His Apostle are more
worthy for them to please if they be believers. Do they not know
that whoso setteth himself against God and His Apostle, for him is the
fire of hell, to dwell therein for aye? and that is mighty shame!
The hypocrites are cautious lest there be revealed against them a
surah to inform them of what is in their hearts; say, 'Mock ye!
verily, God will bring forth that of which ye are so cautious!' But if
thou shouldst ask them, they will say, 'We did but discuss and
jest;' say, 'Was it at God and His signs, and His Apostle, that ye
The Koran |
