| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft: lone building on a hill, of simpler architecture than the other
structures, and in much better repair. It was dark and low and
covered four sides of a square, with a tower at each corner, a
paved court in the centre, and small curious round windows all
over it. Probably it was of basalt, though weeds draped the greater
part; and such was its lonely and impressive place on that far
hill that it may have been a temple or a monastery. Some phosphorescent
fish inside it gave the small round windows an aspect of shining,
and Carter did not blame the sailors much for their fears. Then
by the watery moonlight he noticed an odd high monolith in the
middle of that central court, and saw that something was tied
The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: "With pleasure; at what time?"
"I will send my cart for you."
The following morning the Prince's cart appeared. It was lined
with fur, upholstered in satin, furnished with cushions, and
encircled by a red band which indicated the rank of its owner. A
venerable eunuch, the head of the palace servants, preceded it as
an outrider, and assisted me in mounting and dismounting, while
the driver in red-tasselled hat walked decorously by the side.
The school occupies a large court in the palace grounds. Another
evidence of Western influence in the same court is a large
two-story house of foreign architecture where the Prince receives
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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 Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: through revelation. Now we pray for both these things, that it may come
to those who are not yet in it, and, by daily increase, to us who have
received the same, and hereafter in eternal life. All this is nothing
else than saying: Dear Father, we pray, give us first Thy Word, that
the Gospel be preached properly throughout the world; and secondly,
that it be received in faith, and work and live in us, so that through
the Word and the power of the Holy Ghost Thy kingdom may prevail among
us, and the kingdom of the devil be put down, that he may have no right
or power over us, until at last it shall be utterly destroyed, and sin,
death, and hell shall be exterminated, that we may live forever in
perfect righteousness and blessedness.
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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 Of The Nature of Things by Lucretius: And once in Peloponnesian Aegium,
Twain cities which such out-break of wild air
And earth's convulsion, following hard upon,
O'erthrew of old. And many a walled town,
Besides, hath fall'n by such omnipotent
Convulsions on the land, and in the sea
Engulfed hath sunken many a city down
With all its populace. But if, indeed,
They burst not forth, yet is the very rush
Of the wild air and fury-force of wind
Then dissipated, like an ague-fit,
Of The Nature of Things |
