| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: while I simply listened and looked at him, he seemed perfectly
clear to me as a person, but as soon as I began trying to
classify him he became an exceptionally complex, intricate, and
incomprehensible character in spite of all his candour and
simplicity. "Is that man," I asked myself, "capable of wasting
other people's money, abusing their confidence, being disposed to
sponge on them?" And now this question, which had once seemed to
me grave and important, struck me as crude, petty, and coarse.
Pie was served; then, I remember, with long intervals between,
during which we drank home-made liquors, they gave us a stew of
pigeons, some dish of giblets, roast sucking-pig, partridges,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: be coming on board presently. Just give me a call when you see the
cab."
Then, without noticing the gloominess of the mate's countenance he
went in again. Not a friendly word, not a professional remark, or a
small joke, not as much as a simple and inane "fine day." Nothing.
Just turned about and went in.
We know that, when the moment came, he thought better of it and
decided to meet Flora's father in that privacy of the main cabin
which he had been so careful to arrange. Why Anthony appeared to
shrink from the contact, he who was sufficiently self-confident not
only to face but to absolutely create a situation almost insane in
Chance |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Dream Life and Real Life by Olive Schreiner: he lay down under the thorn-bush; he had not really died. He felt her
hair, and said it was grown long and silky, and he said they would go back
to Denmark now. He asked her why her feet were bare, and what the marks on
her back were. Then he put her head on his shoulder, and picked her up,
and carried her away, away! She laughed--she could feel her face against
his brown beard. His arms were so strong.
As she lay there dreaming, with the ants running over her naked feet, and
with her brown curls lying in the sand, a Hottentot came up to her. He was
dressed in ragged yellow trousers, and a dirty shirt, and torn jacket. He
had a red handkerchief round his head, and a felt hat above that. His nose
was flat, his eyes like slits, and the wool on his head was gathered into
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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 Heroes by Charles Kingsley: hardly be: take down the black sail of the ship (for I shall
watch for it all day upon the cliffs), and hoist instead a
white sail, that I may know afar off that you are safe.'
And Theseus promised, and went out, and to the market-place
where the herald stood, while they drew lots for the youths
and maidens, who were to sail in that doleful crew. And the
people stood wailing and weeping, as the lot fell on this one
and on that; but Theseus strode into the midst, and cried -
'Here is a youth who needs no lot. I myself will be one of
the seven.'
And the herald asked in wonder, 'Fair youth, know you whither
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