| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: And those women who have stopped (child-bearing), who do not hope
for a match, it is no crime on them that they put off their clothes so
as not to display their ornaments; but that they abstain is better for
them, for God both hears and knows.
There is no hindrance to the blind, and no hindrance to the lame,
and no hindrance to the sick, and none upon yourselves that you eat
from your houses, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your
mothers, or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your
sisters, or the houses of your paternal uncles, or the houses of
your paternal aunts, or the houses of your maternal uncles, or the
houses of your maternal aunts, or what ye possess the keys of, or of
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Animal Farm by George Orwell: And he moved off at his lumbering trot and made for the quarry. Having got
there, he collected two successive loads of stone and dragged them down to
the windmill before retiring for the night.
The animals huddled about Clover, not speaking. The knoll where they were
lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. Most of Animal
Farm was within their view--the long pasture stretching down to the main
road, the hayfield, the spinney, the drinking pool, the ploughed fields
where the young wheat was thick and green, and the red roofs of the farm
buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys. It was a clear spring
evening. The grass and the bursting hedges were gilded by the level rays
of the sun. Never had the farm--and with a kind of surprise they
Animal Farm |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Damnation of Theron Ware by Harold Frederic: But when I lay down there, and shut my eyes--because the
charm and marvel of this whole experience had for the moment
overcome me--the strangest sensation seized upon me.
It was absolutely as if I were a boy again, a good,
pure-minded, fond little child, and you were the mother
that I idolized."
Celia had not taken her eyes from his face. "I find myself
liking you better at this moment," she said, with gravity,
"than I have ever liked you before."
Then, as by a sudden impulse, she sprang to her feet.
"Come!" she cried, her voice and manner all vivacity
The Damnation of Theron Ware |
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 Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin: nods as they passed at full gallop, driving before them a
troop of horses, and followed by a train of lanky dogs.
September 12th and 13th. -- I stayed at this posta two days,
waiting for a troop of soldiers, which General Rosas had
the kindness to send to inform me, would shortly travel to
Buenos Ayres; and he advised me to take the opportunity
of the escort. In the morning we rode to some neighbouring
hills to view the country, and to examine the geology. After
dinner the soldiers divided themselves into two parties for
a trial of skill with the bolas. Two spears were stuck in
the ground twenty-five yards apart, but they were struck
The Voyage of the Beagle |
