| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: softly on their bellies, to attack an unwarned neighbour; when even the
Kaffir has again and again given notice of war, saying, 'Be ready, on such
and such a day I come to fight you?' Is England's power so broken, and our
race so enfeebled, that we dare no longer to proclaim war; but must creep
silently upon our bellies in the dark to stab, like a subject people to
whom no other course is open? These men are English; but not English-MEN.
When the men of our race fight, they go to war with a blazoned flag and the
loud trumpet before them. It is because I am an Englishman that these
things crush me. Better that ten thousand of us should lie dead and
defeated on one battlefield, fighting for some great cause, and my own sons
among them, than that those twelve poor boys should have fallen at
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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 Koran: other; would one of you like to eat his dead brother's flesh?- why! ye
would abhor it! then fear God; verily, God is relentant,
compassionate.
O ye folk! verily, we have created you of male and female, and
made you races and tribes that ye may know each other.
Verily, the most honourable of you in the sight of God is the most
pious of you; verily, God is knowing, aware!
The desert Arabs say, 'We believe.' Say, 'Ye do not believe; but
say, "We have become Muslims;" for the faith has not entered into your
hearts: but if ye obey God and His Apostle He will not defraud you
of your works at all: verily, God is forgiving, compassionate!'
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter: into the greenhouse, scratching off a
handful of fur.
The cat was too much surprised to
scratch back.
When old Mr. Bunny had driven the
cat into the greenhouse, he locked the
door.
Then he came back to the basket
and took out his son Benjamin by the
ears, and whipped him with the little
switch.
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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 Bab:A Sub-Deb, Mary Roberts Rinehart by Mary Roberts Rinehart: good name. Ted Grosvenor--that ought to hit them between the eyes.
It's going to be rather a lark, Miss Bab!"
And of course just then mother came in, and the Brooks idiot went
in and poured her a cup of tea, with his little finger stuck out at
a right angel, and every time he had a chance he winked at me.
I wanted to die.
When they had all gone home it seemed like a bad dream, the whole
thing. It could not be true. I went upstairs and manacured my
nails, which usually comforts me, and put my hair up like Leila's.
But nothing could calm me. I had made my own Fate, and must lie in
it. And just then Hannah slipped in with a box in her hands and her
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