| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Ancient Regime by Charles Kingsley: ludicrous or pathetic, according as it is looked on by a cynical or
a human spirit.
It is easy to call such a phenomenon absurd, improbable. It is
rather rational, probable, say certain to happen. Rational, I say;
for the reason of man tells him, and has always told him, that he is
a supernatural being, if by nature is meant that which is cognisable
by his five senses: that his coming into this world, his relation
to it, his exit from it--which are the three most important facts
about him--are supernatural, not to be explained by any deductions
from the impressions of his senses. And I make bold to say, that
the recent discoveries of physical science--notably those of
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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 Land of Footprints by Stewart Edward White: the edge of a bluff, are several pretty little bungalows for the
accommodation of the superintendent and his family, for the
bachelors' mess, for the farm offices and dispensary, and for the
dairy room, the ice-plant and the post-office and telegraph
station. Back of and inland from this row on the edge of the
cliff, and scattered widely in open space, are a large store
stocked with everything on earth, the Somali quarters of low
whitewashed buildings, the cattle corrals, the stables, wild
animal cages, granaries, blacksmith and carpenter shops, wagon
sheds and the like. Outside the enclosure, and a half mile away,
are the conical grass huts that make up the native village. Below
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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 Phantasmagoria and Other Poems by Lewis Carroll: "The vast unfathomable sea
Is but a Notion - unto me."
And darkly fell her answer dread
Upon his unresisting head,
Like half a hundredweight of lead.
"The Good and Great must ever shun
That reckless and abandoned one
Who stoops to perpetrate a pun.
"The man that smokes - that reads the TIMES -
That goes to Christmas Pantomimes -
Is capable of ANY crimes!"
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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 Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: miserably too straight for him, that it was with the utmost difficulty the
corporal was able to get him into them; the taking them up at the sleeves,
was of no advantage.--They were laced however down the back, and at the
seams of the sides, &c. in the mode of King William's reign; and to shorten
all description, they shone so bright against the sun that morning, and had
so metallick and doughty an air with them, that had my uncle Toby thought
of attacking in armour, nothing could have so well imposed upon his
imagination.
As for the thin scarlet breeches, they had been unripp'd by the taylor
between the legs, and left at sixes and sevens--
--Yes, Madam,--but let us govern our fancies. It is enough they were held
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