| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from King James Bible: ISA 27:9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and
this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the
stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves
and images shall not stand up.
ISA 27:10 Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation
forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and
there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.
ISA 27:11 When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken
off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no
understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them,
and he that formed them will shew them no favour.
King James Bible |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Golden Threshold by Sarojini Naidu: And harmony of diverse race:
The votaries of the Prophet's faith,
Of whom you are the crown and chief
And they, who bear on Vedic brows
Their mystic symbols of belief;
And they, who worshipping the sun,
Fled o'er the old Iranian sea;
And they, who bow to Him who trod
The midnight waves of Galilee.
Sweet, sumptuous fables of Baghdad
The splendours of your court recall,
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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 Adventure by Jack London: apprehension.
"What IS the matter?" he demanded, with a show of heat. "What HAVE
I done now?"
Joan's eyes were bright with battle, the curve of her lips sharp
with mockery.
"Certainly not the unexpected," she said quietly. "Merely ignored
me in your ordinary, every-day, man-god, superior fashion.
Naturally it counted for nothing, my telling you that I had no idea
of going to Sydney. Go to Sydney I must, because you, in your
superior wisdom, have so decreed."
She paused and looked at him curiously, as though he were some
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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 Padre Ignacio by Owen Wister: deaf, and with smiling, unconvinced eyes, was shaking his head, while
young Gaston sang Trovatore at him, and beat upon the table with a fork.
"Come and convert me, then," said Padre Ignacio, and he led the way.
"Donizetti I have always admitted. There, at least, is refinement. If the
world has taken to this Verdi, with his street-band music--But there,
now! Sit down and convert me. Only don't crush my poor little Erard with
Verdi's hoofs. I brought it when I came. It is behind the times, too.
And, oh, my dear boy, our organ is still worse. So old, so old! To get a
proper one I would sacrifice even this piano of mine in a moment--only
the tinkling thing is not worth a sou to anybody except its master. But
there! Are you quite comfortable?" And having seen to his guest's needs,
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