| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne: down my hat, I took hold of her fingers in one hand, and applied
the two forefingers of my other to the artery. -
- Would to heaven! my dear Eugenius, thou hadst passed by, and
beheld me sitting in my black coat, and in my lack-a-day-sical
manner, counting the throbs of it, one by one, with as much true
devotion as if I had been watching the critical ebb or flow of her
fever. - How wouldst thou have laugh'd and moralized upon my new
profession! - and thou shouldst have laugh'd and moralized on. -
Trust me, my dear Eugenius, I should have said, "There are worse
occupations in this world THAN FEELING A WOMAN'S PULSE." - But a
grisette's! thou wouldst have said, - and in an open shop! Yorick
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Awakening & Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin: conditions which we create, and which we feel obliged to maintain
at any cost."
"Yes," she said. "The years that are gone seem like
dreams--if one might go on sleeping and dreaming--but to wake up and
find--oh! well! perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to
suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one's life."
"It seems to me, my dear child," said the Doctor at parting,
holding her hand, "you seem to me to be in trouble. I am not going
to ask for your confidence. I will only say that if ever you feel
moved to give it to me, perhaps I might help you. I know I would
understand, And I tell you there are not many who would--not many,
Awakening & Selected Short Stories |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Oscar Wilde Miscellaneous by Oscar Wilde: hid myself in a bush. They did me no harm.
* * * * *
MYRRHINA. Tell me more about the beautiful young hermit. Talk to
me about the beautiful young hermit who will not look on the face of
woman. What is the story of his days? What mode of life has he?
FIRST MAN. We do not understand you.
MYRRHINA. What does he do, the beautiful young hermit? Does he sow
or reap? Does he plant a garden or catch fish in a net? Does he
weave linen on a loom? Does he set his hand to the wooden plough
and walk behind the oxen?
SECOND MAN. He being a very holy man does nothing. We are common
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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 A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: company, alarmed at the noise, were in equal apprehension and
surprise; but ere Montrose could almost see what had happened,
Allan M'Aulay had rushed past him, and descended the castle
stairs like lightning. "Guards, shut the gate!" exclaimed
Montrose--"Seize him--kill him, if he resists!--He shall die, if
he were my brother!"
But Allan prostrated, with a second blow of his dagger, a
sentinel who was upon duty---traversed the camp like a mountain-
deer, though pursued by all who caught the alarm--threw himself
into the river, and, swimming to the opposite side, was soon lost
among the woods. In the course of the same evening, his brother
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