| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum: in comfort.
"If it is true that anyone came to our country to steal your diamond
dishpan," said one of the Yips to Cayke, "it must have been a bird,
for no person in the form of a man, woman or child could have climbed
through these bushes and back again."
"And, allowing he could have done so," said another Yip, "the
diamond-studded gold dishpan would not have repaid him for his
troubles and his tribulations."
"For my part," remarked a third Yip, "I would rather go back home and
dig and polish some more diamonds and mine some more gold and make you
another dishpan than be scratched from head to heel by these dreadful
The Lost Princess of Oz |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: all human instincts in this man of scarce fifty years of age, whom all
Paris had known as so brilliant and so successful.
"One morning at the beginning of December 1824, he looked up at
Ernest, who sat at the foot of his bed gazing at his father with
wistful eyes.
" 'Are you in pain?' the little Vicomte asked.
" 'No,' said the Count, with a ghastly smile, 'it all lies HERE AND
ABOUT MY HEART!'
"He pointed to his forehead, and then laid his wasted fingers on his
hollow chest. Ernest began to cry at the sight.
" 'How is it that M. Derville does not come to me?' the Count asked
Gobseck |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Adam Bede by George Eliot: second broadest man. Martin Poyser the younger, as the broadest,
was to be president, and Mr. Casson, as next broadest, was to be
vice.
Owing to this arrangement, Adam, being, of course, at the bottom
of the table, fell under the immediate observation of Mr. Casson,
who, too much occupied with the question of precedence, had not
hitherto noticed his entrance. Mr. Casson, we have seen,
considered Adam "rather lifted up and peppery-like": he thought
the gentry made more fuss about this young carpenter than was
necessary; they made no fuss about Mr. Casson, although he had
been an excellent butler for fifteen years.
Adam Bede |
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 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: course for her. I had been so worried and restless running up and
down that I had not had the patience to dress that day. I had
remained in my sleeping-suit, with straw slippers and a soft floppy
hat. The closeness of the heat in the gulf had been most
oppressive, and the crew were used to see me wandering in that airy
attire.
"She will clear the south point as she heads now," I whispered into
his ear. "Goodness only knows when, though, but certainly after
dark. I'll edge her in to half a mile, as far as I may be able to
judge in the dark - "
"Be careful," he murmured, warningly - and I realised suddenly that
'Twixt Land & Sea |
