| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Symposium by Plato: Moreover, I have asked Socrates about the truth of some parts of his
narrative, and he confirmed them. Then, said Glaucon, let us have the tale
over again; is not the road to Athens just made for conversation? And so
we walked, and talked of the discourses on love; and therefore, as I said
at first, I am not ill-prepared to comply with your request, and will have
another rehearsal of them if you like. For to speak or to hear others
speak of philosophy always gives me the greatest pleasure, to say nothing
of the profit. But when I hear another strain, especially that of you rich
men and traders, such conversation displeases me; and I pity you who are my
companions, because you think that you are doing something when in reality
you are doing nothing. And I dare say that you pity me in return, whom you
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln by Helen Nicolay: so much mercy.
Yet Mr. Lincoln could be sternly just when necessary. A law
declaring the slave trade to be piracy had stood on the statute
books of the United States for half a century. Lincoln's
administration was the first to convict a man under it, and
Lincoln himself decreed that the well-deserved sentence be
carried out.
Mr. Lincoln sympathized keenly with the hardships and trials of
the soldier boys, and found time, amid all his labors and cares,
to visit the hospitals in and around Washington where they lay
ill. His afternoon drive was usually to some camp in the
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: or irrigate the tilth, a sound one with no blemish on her.' They said,
'Now hast thou brought the truth.' And they slaughtered her, though
they came near leaving it undone.
When too ye slew a soul and disputed thereupon, and God brought
forth that which ye had hidden, then we said, 'Strike him with part of
her.' Thus God brings the dead to life and shows you His signs, that
haply ye may understand.
Yet were your hearts hardened even after that, till they were as
stones or harder still, for verily of stones are some from which
streams burst forth, and of them there are some that burst asunder and
the water issues out, and of them there are some that fall down for
The Koran |
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 In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: bridal party, knew that she was going to enjoy herself. She seemed to fill
out and become rosy and warm as she sniffed that familiar festive smell.
Somebody pulled at her skirt, and, looking down, she saw Frau Rupp, the
butcher's wife, who pulled out an empty chair and begged her to sit beside
her.
"Fritz will get you some beer," she said. "My dear, your skirt is open at
the back. We could not help laughing as you walked up the room with the
white tape of your petticoat showing!"
"But how frightful!" said Frau Brechenmacher, collapsing into her chair and
biting her lip.
"Na, it's over now," said Frau Rupp, stretching her fat hands over the
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