| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lair of the White Worm by Bram Stoker: as it did not lack proper respect, I should not of my own part
condescend to notice it. Did you ever study the eyes of a hound?"
"At rest?"
"No, when he is following his instincts! Or, better still," Adam
went on, "the eyes of a bird of prey when he is following his
instincts. Not when he is swooping, but merely when he is watching
his quarry?"
"No," said Sir Nathaniel, "I don't know that I ever did. Why, may I
ask?"
"That was the look. Certainly not amatory or anything of that kind-
-yet it was, it struck me, more dangerous, if not so deadly as an
Lair of the White Worm |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tour Through Eastern Counties of England by Daniel Defoe: bridge.
July 1st. From the 26th to the 1st, the besiegers continued
finishing their works, and by the 2nd the whole town was shut in;
at which the besiegers gave a general salvo from their cannon at
all their forts; but the besieged gave them a return, for they
sallied out in the night, attacked Barkstead's fort, scarce
finished, with such fury, that they twice entered the work sword in
hand, killed most part of the defendants, and spoiled part of the
forts cast up; but fresh forces coming up, they retired with little
loss, bringing eight prisoners, and having slain, as they reported,
above 100.
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: hunting-grounds" beyond the grave. The truth is that
when, as in such cases, the tribal life is very whole and
unbroken--each individual identifying himself completely with
the tribe--the idea of the individual's being dropped out
at death, and left behind by the tribe, hardly arises. The
individual is the tribe, has no other existence. The
tribe goes on, living a life which is eternal, and only
changes its hunting-grounds; and the individual, identified
with the tribe, feels in some subconscious way the same about
himself.
But when one member has broken faith with the tribe,
Pagan and Christian Creeds |
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 Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad: As I did not want to appear as if I wished to avoid all
communication with my officers, he had the opportunity
to address me.
"Seems a very nice man. His boat's crew told our chaps a very
extraordinary story, if what I am told by the steward is true.
I suppose you had it from the captain, sir?"
"Yes. I had a story from the captain."
"A very horrible affair--isn't it, sir?"
"It is."
"Beats all these tales we hear about murders in Yankee ships."
"I don't think it beats them. I don't think it resembles them
The Secret Sharer |
