| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Poor and Proud by Oliver Optic: gentlemen did not like to be seen eating candy in the street,
neither would many of them want to put it into their pockets,
where it would melt and stick to their clothes. They would eat it
in their shops and houses; and with this new idea she was
encouraged to make a new effort. Walking along till she came to a
store where there appeared to be several clerks she entered.
"Buy some candy?" she said, addressing a salesman near the
window, as she raised up her ware so that he could see them.
The clerk made no reply, but coming round from behind the
counter, he rudely took her arm, opened the door, and pushed her
into the street. Katy's cheek burned with indignation at this
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. And
the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth
the will of God abideth for ever.' Seeking, then, this good will
of God, I have forsaken everything, and joined myself to those
who possess the same desire, and seek after the same God.
Amongst these there is no strife or envy, sorrow or care, but all
run the like race that they may obtain those everlasting
habitations which the Father of lights hath prepared for them
that love him. Them have I gained for my fathers, my brothers,
my friends and mine acquaintances. But from my former friends
and brethren `I have got me away far off, and lodged in 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 The Master Key by L. Frank Baum: grass-covered space at the top.
Then, reclining upon his back, he gave himself up to thoughts of
how he might escape from his unpleasant predicament.
"Here I am, on a cannibal island, hundreds of miles from civilization,
with no way to get back," he reflected. "The family will look for me
every day, and finally decide I've broken my neck. The Demon will
call upon me when the week is up and won't find me at home; so I'll
miss the next three gifts. I don't mind that so much, for they might
bring me into worst scrapes than this. But how am I to get away from
this beastly island? I'll be eaten, after all, if I don't look out!"
These and similar thoughts occupied him for some time, yet in spite of
The Master Key |
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 Crito by Plato: will you nor any that belong to you be happier or holier or juster in this
life, or happier in another, if you do as Crito bids. Now you depart in
innocence, a sufferer and not a doer of evil; a victim, not of the laws,
but of men. But if you go forth, returning evil for evil, and injury for
injury, breaking the covenants and agreements which you have made with us,
and wronging those whom you ought least of all to wrong, that is to say,
yourself, your friends, your country, and us, we shall be angry with you
while you live, and our brethren, the laws in the world below, will receive
you as an enemy; for they will know that you have done your best to destroy
us. Listen, then, to us and not to Crito.'
This, dear Crito, is the voice which I seem to hear murmuring in my ears,
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