| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Sa: Iktomi.
"How, Iktomi!" answered Patkasa, still stooping over the deer.
"My friend, you are a skilled hunter," began Iktomi, smiling
a thin smile which spread from one ear to the other.
Suddenly raising up his head Patkasa's black eyes twinkled as
he asked: "Oh, you really say so?"
"Yes, my friend, you are a skillful fellow. Now let us have
a little contest. Let us see who can jump over the deer without
touching a hair on his hide," suggested Iktomi.
"Oh, I fear I cannot do it!" cried Patkasa, rubbing his
funny, thick palms together.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dreams by Olive Schreiner: it, and in its light do you not see every man your brother? Are you so
sinless you have right to hate?'
"He looked, and said, 'Yes, you are right; I too have failed, and I forgive
my fellow. Go, I am satisfied; I have forgiven;' and he laid him down
peacefully and folded his hands on his breast, and I thought it was well
with him. But scarcely had my wings rustled and I turned to come up here,
when I heard one crying out on earth again, 'I cannot forgive! I cannot
forgive! Oh, God, God, I cannot forgive! It is better to die than to
hate! I cannot forgive! I cannot forgive!' And I went and stood outside
his door in the dark, and I heard him cry, 'I have not sinned so, not so!
If I have torn my fellows' flesh ever so little, I have kneeled down and
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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 Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence: fight for her freedom. But something else in her was strange and inert
and heavy. His body was urgent against her, and she hadn't the heart
any more to fight.
He looked around.
'Come--come here! Through here,' he said, looking penetratingly into
the dense fir-trees, that were young and not more than half-grown.
He looked back at her. She saw his eyes, tense and brilliant, fierce,
not loving. But her will had left her. A strange weight was on her
limbs. She was giving way. She was giving up.
He led her through the wall of prickly trees, that were difficult to
come through, to a place where was a little space and a pile of dead
Lady Chatterley's Lover |
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 Damaged Goods by Upton Sinclair: "But what's the matter?" cried George.
Again there was a silence before the reply came. He read
something terrible in the mother's manner, and he found himself
trembling violently.
"I have brought back the child and the nurse," said Madame
Dupont.
"What! Is the little one sick?"
"Yes."
"What's the matter with her?"
"Nothing dangerous--for the moment, at least."
"We must send and get the doctor!" cried George.
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