| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from La Grenadiere by Honore de Balzac: dew, until sweeping and dusting operations were completed, and they
could learn their lessons in the sitting-room until their mother
joined them. But although it was understood that they must not go to
their mother's room before a certain hour, they peeped in at the door
continually; and these morning inroads, made in defiance of the
original compact, were delicious moments for all three. Marie sprang
upon the bed to put his arms around his idolized mother, and Louis,
kneeling by the pillow, took her hand in his. Then came inquiries,
anxious as a lover's, followed by angelic laughter, passionate
childish kisses, eloquent silences, lisping words, and the little
ones' stories interrupted and resumed by a kiss, stories seldom
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: The Delaware trail led over logs, stones and hard-baked ground, up stony
ravines and over cliffs. The wily chief used all of his old skill; he walked
backward over moss and sand where his footprints showed plainly; he leaped
wide fissures in stony ravines, and then jumped back again; he let himself
down over ledges by branches; he crossed creeks and gorges by swinging himself
into trees and climbing from one to another; he waded brooks where he found
hard bottom, and avoided swampy, soft ground.
With dogged persistence and tenacity of purpose Wetzel stuck to this gradually
fading trail. Every additional rod he was forced to go more slowly, and take
more time in order to find any sign of his enemy's passage through the
forests. One thing struck him forcibly. Wingenund was gradually circling to
The Spirit of the Border |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Odyssey by Homer: thou mayst be assured. Lo, here is the haven of Phorcys,
the ancient one of the sea, and here at the haven's head is
the olive tree with spreading leaves, and hard by it is the
pleasant cave and shadowy, sacred to the nymphs that are
called the Naiads. Yonder, behold, is the roofed cavern,
where thou offeredst many an acceptable sacrifice of
hecatombs to the nymphs; and lo, this hill is Neriton, all
clothed in forest.'
Therewith the goddess scattered the mist, and the land
appeared. Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus was glad
rejoicing in his own land, and he kissed the earth, the
The Odyssey |
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 Rig Veda: Dear to all life, mid mortal men Immortal, our guest, awake
at dawn,
is Jatavedas.
3 Whose might the very heavens regard with wonder: bright as
the Sun
he clothes himself with lustre.
He who sends forth,, Eternal Purifier, hath shattered e'en
the ancient
works of Asna.
4 Thou art a Singer, Son! our feast-companion: Agni at birth
prepared
The Rig Veda |
