| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay: off his face in great drops. The waking nightmare lasted a long
time, but during that space it kept coming and going. At one moment
the vision seemed on the point of departing; the next it almost took
shape - which he knew would be his death. Suddenly it vanished
altogether - he was free. A fresh spring breeze fanned his face; he
heard the slow, solitary singing of a sweet bird; and it seemed to
him as if a poem had shot together in his soul. Such flashing,
heartbreaking joy he had never experienced before in all his life!
Almost immediately that too vanished.
Sitting up, he passed his hand across his eyes and swayed quietly,
like one who has been visited by an angel.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: the bond of the sea. Besides holding our hearts together
through long periods of separation, it had the effect of making
us tolerant of each other's yarns--and even convictions.
The Lawyer--the best of old fellows--had, because of his many
years and many virtues, the only cushion on deck, and was lying
on the only rug. The Accountant had brought out already a box
of dominoes, and was toying architecturally with the bones.
Marlow sat cross-legged right aft, leaning against
the mizzen-mast. He had sunken cheeks, a yellow complexion,
a straight back, an ascetic aspect, and, with his arms dropped,
the palms of hands outwards, resembled an idol.
Heart of Darkness |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: in truth! Exalted be He above that which they join with Him!
He created man from a clot; and yet, behold, he is an open opponent!
The cattle too have we created for you; in them is warmth and
profit, and from them do ye eat.
In them is there beauty for you when ye drive them home to rest, and
when ye drive them forth to graze. And they bear your heavy burdens to
towns which ye could not otherwise reach, except with great
wretchedness of soul;- verily, your Lord is kind and merciful.
And horses too, and mules, and asses, for you to ride upon and for
an ornament.- He creates also what ye know not of. God's it is to show
the path; from it some turn aside: but had He pleased He would have
The Koran |
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 Dracula by Bram Stoker: your true friends, are round you, and that we pray for you all the time."
"Go on," said Arthur hoarsely."Tell me what I am to do."
"Take this stake in your left hand, ready to place to
the point over the heart, and the hammer in your right.
Then when we begin our prayer for the dead, I shall read him,
I have here the book, and the others shall follow, strike in
God's name, that so all may be well with the dead that we love
and that the UnDead pass away."
Arthur took the stake and the hammer, and when once his mind
was set on action his hands never trembled nor even quivered.
Van Helsing opened his missal and began to read, and Quincey
Dracula |
