| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum: free from care, and music and laughter might be heard on every side.
"Don't they work at all?" asked the shaggy man.
"To be sure they work," replied the Tin Woodman; "this fair city
could not be built or cared for without labor, nor could the fruit and
vegetables and other food be provided for the inhabitants to eat. But
no one works more than half his time, and the people of Oz enjoy their
labors as much as they do their play."
"It's wonderful!" declared the shaggy man. "I do hope Ozma will let
me live here."
The chariot, winding through many charming streets, paused before a
building so vast and noble and elegant that even Button-Bright guessed
The Road to Oz |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Little Britain by Washington Irving: gentleman by profession in the place. I stand therefore in high
favor with both parties, and have to hear all their cabinet
councils and mutual backbitings. As I am too civil not to agree
with the ladies on all occasions, I have committed myself most
horribly with both parties, by abusing their opponents. I might
manage to reconcile this to my conscience, which is a truly
accommodating one, but I cannot to my apprehension--if the
Lambs and Trotters ever come to a reconciliation, and compare
notes, I am ruined!
I have determined, therefore, to beat a retreat in time, and am
actually looking out for some other nest in this great city,
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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 Stories From the Old Attic by Robert Harris: "Maybe I am useless," he thought. He appealed to the shaft he was
threaded onto.
"Look, kid," the shaft told him, "I've got plenty of other
parts holding on to me. I shouldn't have to support you, too."
So finally the little nut decided to unscrew himself and go
away. He dropped off the shaft and fell through a hole in the
bottom of the machine. "Good riddance," said the motor.
"Yeah, good riddance," all the other parts agreed.
Rather quickly the nut was forgotten and things went on as they
had for awhile. But in a few hours, the shaft began to feel funny.
At first he began to vibrate. Then he started sliding and slipping.
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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 Before Adam by Jack London: dragging down the calves, the aged, and the sick. We
had been chased by them ourselves, more than once. I
had seen one of the Folk, a woman, run down by them and
caught just as she reached the shelter of the woods.
Had she not been tired out by the run, she might have
made it into a tree. She tried, and slipped, and fell
back. They made short work of her.
We did not stare at each other longer than a moment.
Keeping tight hold of our prizes, we ran for the woods.
Once in the security of a tall tree, we held up the
puppies and laughed again. You see, we had to have our
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