| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Dreams by Olive Schreiner: And the other said, "I thought it was mire when they came in, but see, it
is all golden!"
But another said, "Hush, it is the light from their faces!"
And we went down to him.
Alassio, Italy.
XI. THE SUNLIGHT LAY ACROSS MY BED.
In the dark one night I lay upon my bed. I heard the policeman's feet beat
on the pavement; I heard the wheels of carriages roll home from houses of
entertainment; I heard a woman's laugh below my window--and then I fell
asleep. And in the dark I dreamt a dream. I dreamt God took my soul to
Hell.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from King James Bible: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden
be brought in on the sabbath day.
NEH 13:20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged
without Jerusalem once or twice.
NEH 13:21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge
ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that
time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
NEH 13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse
themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify
the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare
me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
King James Bible |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: "I would have Your Grace to observe," put in Trench ard quietly,
"that Mr. Wilding, properly speaking, does not reside in Bridgwater."
"Tush!" cried Albemarle; "the rogue but mentions the first name with a
'W' that occurs to him. He's not even an ingenious liar. And how,
sir," he asked Richard, "does it come to be in your possession, having
been addressed, as you say, to Mr. Wilding?"
"Aye, sir," said Sir Edward, blinking his weak eyes. "Tell us that."
Richard hesitated again, and looked at Blake. Blake, who by now had
come to realize that his friend's affairs were not mended by his
interruptions, moodily shrugged his shoulders, scowling.
"Come, sir," said Colonel Luttrell, engagingly, answer the question."
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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 Merry Men by Robert Louis Stevenson: and, in spite of a deceptive manner, was as fickle and flighty as
the rest of them. He had to congratulate himself on an escape, he
said, and would take a higher opinion of his own wisdom in
consequence. But at heart, he was reasonably displeased, moped a
good deal for a month or two, and fell away in flesh, to the
astonishment of his serving-lads.
It was perhaps a year after this marriage that Will was awakened
late one night by the sound of a horse galloping on the road,
followed by precipitate knocking at the inn-door. He opened his
window and saw a farm servant, mounted and holding a led horse by
the bridle, who told him to make what haste he could and go along
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