| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain: her graceful head as a bird does when it listens. The
sound bored its way up through the stillness again.
"What is it?" I said.
"It is truly a stubborn soul, and endureth long. It
is many hours now."
"Endureth what?"
"The rack. Come -- ye shall see a blithe sight.
An he yield not his secret now, ye shall see him torn
asunder."
What a silky smooth hellion she was; and so com-
posed and serene, when the cords all down my legs
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Daisy Miller by Henry James: o'clock), Winterbourne approached the dusky circle of the Colosseum,
it recurred to him, as a lover of the picturesque, that the interior,
in the pale moonshine, would be well worth a glance. He turned aside
and walked to one of the empty arches, near which, as he observed,
an open carriage--one of the little Roman streetcabs--was stationed.
Then he passed in, among the cavernous shadows of the great structure,
and emerged upon the clear and silent arena. The place had never
seemed to him more impressive. One-half of the gigantic circus
was in deep shade, the other was sleeping in the luminous dusk.
As he stood there he began to murmur Byron's famous lines,
out of "Manfred," but before he had finished his quotation
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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 Human Drift by Jack London: Still punch the bag?
MAUD. [In quick alarm, glancing at punching bag.] No, I've got
out of the hang of it.
FITZSIMMONS. [Reproachfully.] You haven't forgotten that right-
and-left, arm, elbow and shoulder movement I taught you?
MAUD. [With hesitation.] N-o-o.
FITZSIMMONS. [Moving toward bag to left.] Then, come on.
MAUD. [Rising reluctantly and following.] I'd rather see you
punch the bag. I'd just love to.
FITZSIMMONS. I will, afterward. You go to it first.
MAUD. [Eyeing the bag in alarm.] No; you. I'm out of practice.
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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 Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: as in any other--in loss, in death--bear one's trouble in peace,
but that one must act," said he, as though guessing her thought.
"One must get out of the humiliating position in which one is
placed; one can't live a trois."
"I understand, I quite understand that," said Dolly, and her head
sank. She was silent for a little, thinking of herself, of her
own grief in her family, and all at once, with an impulsive
movement, she raised her head and clasped her hands with an
imploring gesture. "But wait a little! You are a Christian. Think
of her! What will become of her, if you cast her off?"
"I have thought, Darya Alexandrovna, I have thought a great
Anna Karenina |
