| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Atheist's Mass by Honore de Balzac: persistent observer of human chemistry possessed that antique
science of the Mages, that is to say, knowledge of the elements
in fusion, the causes of life, life antecedent to life, and what
it must be in its incubation or ever it IS, it must be confessed
that, unfortunately, everything in him was purely personal.
Isolated during his life by his egoism, that egoism is now
suicidal of his glory. On his tomb there is no proclaiming statue
to repeat to posterity the mysteries which genius seeks out at
its own cost.
But perhaps Desplein's genius was answerable for his beliefs, and
for that reason mortal. To him the terrestrial atmosphere was a
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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 Complete Angler by Izaak Walton: must take your knife, which cannot be too sharp, and betwixt the head
and the fin on the back, cut or make an incision, or such a scar, as you
may put the arming-wire of your hook into it, with as little bruising or
hurting the fish as art and diligence will enable you to do; and so
carrying your arming-wire along his back, unto or near the tail of your
fish, betwixt the skin and the body of it, draw out that wire or arming of
your hook at another scar near to his : the then tie him about it with
thread, but no harder than of necessity, to prevent hurting the fish; and
the better to avoid hurting the fish, some have a kind of probe to open
the way for the more easy entrance and passage of your wire or arming:
but as for these, time and a little experience will teach you better than I
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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 Letters of Two Brides by Honore de Balzac: the self-regarding feelings. To pose perpetually as a divinity is a
draught so potent in its intoxicating effects, that I am no longer
surprised to see women grow selfish, callous, and frivolous in the
heart of this adoration. The fumes of society mount to the head. You
lavish the wealth of your soul and spirit, the treasures of your time,
the noblest efforts of your will, upon a crowd of people who repay you
in smiles and jealousy. The false coin of their pretty speeches,
compliments, and flattery is the only return they give for the solid
gold of your courage and sacrifices, and all the thought that must go
to keep up without flagging the standard of beauty, dress, sparkling
talk, and general affability. You are perfectly aware how much it
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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 Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw: making for good on the whole.
VIVIE [with biting irony] "A power, not ourselves, that makes for
righteousness," eh?
CROFTS [taking her seriously] Oh certainly. Not ourselves, of
course. Y o u understand what I mean. Well, now as to practical
matters. You may have an idea that Ive flung my money about; but
I havnt: I'm richer today than when I first came into the
property. Ive used my knowledge of the world to invest my money
in ways that other men have overlooked; and whatever else I may
be, I'm a safe man from the money point of view.
VIVIE. It's very kind of you to tell me all this.
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