| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: Remember old Nelson! Rather! Truly, none of us in my generation
had known him in his active days. He was "retired" in our time.
He had bought, or else leased, part of a small island from the
Sultan of a little group called the Seven Isles, not far north from
Banka. It was, I suppose, a legitimate transaction, but I have no
doubt that had he been an Englishman the Dutch would have
discovered a reason to fire him out without ceremony. In this
connection the real form of his name stood him in good stead. In
the character of an unassuming Dane whose conduct was most correct,
they let him be. With all his money engaged in cultivation he was
naturally careful not to give even the shadow of offence, and it
 'Twixt Land & Sea |
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 Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane: oncoming express train.
As the girl passed down through the hall, she went before open
doors framing more eyes strangely microscopic, and sending broad
beams of inquisitive light into the darkness of her path. On the
second floor she met the gnarled old woman who possessed the music box.
"So," she cried, "'ere yehs are back again, are yehs? An'
dey've kicked yehs out? Well, come in an' stay wid me teh-night.
I ain' got no moral standin'."
From above came an unceasing babble of tongues, over all of
which rang the mother's derisive laughter.
Chapter XVI
 Maggie: A Girl of the Streets |