| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: the hearts of others, fearing lest some evil overtake you. You will
have about you faithful lieges, willing subjects, nimble servitors.
You shall behold how, as a matter of free choice, they will display a
providential care for you. And if danger threatens, you will find in
them not simply fellow-warriors, but champions eager to defend you
with their lives.[11]
[11] Not {summakhoi}, but {promakhoi}.
Worthy of many gifts you shall be deemed, and yet be never at a loss
for some well-wisher with whom to share them. You shall command a
world-wide loyalty; a whole people shall rejoice with you at your good
fortunes, a whole people battle for your interests, as if in very deed
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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 Koran: brought forth therefrom seed, and from it do they eat; and we made
therein gardens and palms and grapes, and we have caused fountains
to gush forth therein, that they may eat from the fruit thereof, and
of what their hands have made; will they not then give thanks?
Celebrated be the praises of Him who created all kinds, of what
the earth brings forth, and of themselves, and what they know not of!
And a sign to them is the night, from which we strip off the day,
and lo! they are in the dark; and the sun runs on to a place of rest
for it; that is the ordinance of the mighty, the wise.
And the moon, we have ordered for it stations, until it comes
again to be like an old dry palm branch.
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Lay Morals by Robert Louis Stevenson: so soon as he began to perceive a change for the better, he
felt justified in spending more freely, to speed and brighten
his return to health, and trusted in the future to lend a
help to mankind, as mankind, out of its treasury, had lent a
help to him.
I do not say but that my friend was a little too curious and
partial in his view; nor thought too much of himself and too
little of his parents; but I do say that here are some
scruples which tormented my friend in his youth, and still,
perhaps, at odd times give him a prick in the midst of his
enjoyments, and which after all have some foundation in
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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 War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: delay and carry out instructions!
Prince Andrew sighed and broke the seal of another envelope. It
was a closely written letter of two sheets from Bilibin. He folded
it up without reading it and reread his father's letter, ending with
the words: "Gallop off to Korchevo and carry out instructions!"
"No, pardon me, I won't go now till the child is better," thought
he, going to the door and looking into the nursery.
Princess Mary was still standing by the cot, gently rocking the
baby.
"Ah yes, and what else did he say that's unpleasant?" thought Prince
Andrew, recalling his father's letter. "Yes, we have gained a
War and Peace |
