| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: my dear son Ned! You know Ned?'
Mrs Varden had that honour, and a fine affable young gentleman he
was.
'You're a mother, Mrs Varden,' said Mr Chester, taking a pinch of
snuff, 'and you know what I, as a father, feel, when he is praised.
He gives me some uneasiness--much uneasiness--he's of a roving
nature, ma'am--from flower to flower--from sweet to sweet--but his
is the butterfly time of life, and we must not be hard upon such
trifling.'
He glanced at Dolly. She was attending evidently to what he said.
Just what he desired!
Barnaby Rudge |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner: "If the bird does like its cage, and does like its sugar and will not leave
it, why keep the door so very carefully shut? Why not open it, only a
little? Do they know there is many a bird will not break its wings against
the bars, but would fly if the doors were open?" She knit her forehead and
leaned further over the bars.
"Then they say, 'If the women have the liberty you ask for, they will be
found in positions for which they are not fitted!' If two men climb one
ladder, did you ever see the weakest anywhere but at the foot? The surest
sign of fitness is success. The weakest never wins but where there is
handicapping. Nature, left to herself, will as beautifully apportion a
man's work to his capacities as long ages ago she graduated the colours on
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Persuasion by Jane Austen: pray give him my compliments and Mrs Croft's, and say that we are
settled here quite to our liking, and have no fault at all to find
with the place. The breakfast-room chimney smokes a little,
I grant you, but it is only when the wind is due north and blows hard,
which may not happen three times a winter. And take it altogether,
now that we have been into most of the houses hereabouts and can judge,
there is not one that we like better than this. Pray say so,
with my compliments. He will be glad to hear it."
Lady Russell and Mrs Croft were very well pleased with each other:
but the acquaintance which this visit began was fated not to proceed
far at present; for when it was returned, the Crofts announced
Persuasion |
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 The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: though I could see by her eyes that something puzzled her strangely.
I did not wonder at her attitude toward me while others were present;
but that she should have denied me while she and Thuvia were the only
occupants of the garden still cut me sorely.
As the examination proceeded I cast a glance at Thurid
and startled him looking wide-eyed and wonderingly at me,
and then of a sudden he laughed full in my face.
A moment later Salensus Oll turned toward the black.
The Warlord of Mars |
