| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum: the log craft fast while they took their places,
and the flow of the river was so powerful that it
nearly tore the raft from his hands. As soon as
they were all seated upon the logs he let go and
away it floated and the adventurers had begun
their voyage toward the Winkie Country.
The little house of the Quadlings was out of
sight almost before they had cried their good-
byes, and the Scarecrow said in a pleased voice:
"It won't take us long to get to the Winkie
Country, at this rate."
The Patchwork Girl of Oz |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Heroes by Charles Kingsley: his mother the meaning of that stone, and what might lie
underneath it; but her face was so sad that he had not the
heart to ask.
So he said to himself, 'The day shall surely come when I will
lift that stone, though no man in Troezene can.' And in
order to grow strong he spent all his days in wrestling, and
boxing, and hurling, and taming horses, and hunting the boar
and the bull, and coursing goats and deer among the rocks;
till upon all the mountains there was no hunter so swift as
Theseus; and he killed Phaia the wild sow of Crommyon, which
wasted all the land; till all the people said, 'Surely the
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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 Tattine by Ruth Ogden [Mrs. Charles W. Ide]: little live rabbit, there is no telling but they would dig up a dead one." So
the hole was made at least four inches deep, Bunny was buried in it, and the
earth, with Joey's assistance, stamped down hard, but afterwards it was
loosened somewhat to plant a little wild-wood plant atop of the tiny grave.
"Now, Joey, you wait here till I go bring something for a tombstone," Tattine
directed, and in a second she was back again with the cover of a box in one
hand and a red crayon in the other. Sitting flat upon the grass, she printed
on the cover in rather irregular letters:--
BORN--I don't know when. DIED June 17th.
LAVERACK SETTERS NOT ALLOWED.
This she put securely into place, while Joey raked up a little about the spot,
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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 Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: more anxiety concerning thee. The Lord is on my side, and I
shall see my desire upon mine enemies. I shall go upon the adder
and basilisk, the which thou dost resemble; thee, the lion and
dragon I shall tread under my feet; for I am strengthened with
the might of Christ. Let mine enemies be ashamed and turned
backward: let them be driven and put to shame suddenly."
Thus speaking, and girding on that invincible weapon, the sign of
the Cross, he made vain the devil's shows. For straightway all
the beasts and creeping things disappeared, like as the smoke
vanisheth, and like as wax melteth at the fire. And he, strong
in the might of Christ, went on his way rejoicing and giving
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