| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: murmuring, "Such a wonderful, beloved man"; with her disengaged hand
Fraulein Sonia was arranging the sweet pea "garniture."
...
"A concert for the benefit of afflicted Catholic infants will take place in
the salon at eight-thirty P.M. Artists: Fraulein Sonia Godowska, from
Vienna; Herr Professor Windberg and his trombone; Frau Oberlehrer Weidel,
and others."
This notice was tied round the neck of the melancholy stag's head in the
dining-room. It graced him like a red and white dinner bib for days before
the event, causing the Herr Professor to bow before it and say "good
appetite" until we sickened of his pleasantry and left the smiling to be
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Tin Woodman of Oz by L. Frank Baum: taking the direct path to Ku-Klip's house, for both the
tin twins knew the way, having followed it many times.
Ku-Klip lived at the far edge of the great forest,
his house facing the broad plains of the Munchkin
Country that lay to the eastward. But, when they came
to this residence by the forest's edge, the tinsmith
was not at home.
It was a pretty place, all painted dark blue with
trimmings of lighter blue. There was a neat blue fence
around the yard and several blue benches had been
placed underneath the shady blue trees which marked the
The Tin Woodman of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Letters of Two Brides by Honore de Balzac: "Thank you, Felipe," I said, holding out my hand to him with a gesture
which you ought to see. "A woman, and I am nothing, if not a woman, is
on the road to loving the man who understands her. Oh! only on the
road," I went on, with a finger on my lips. "Don't let your hopes
carry you beyond what I say. My heart will belong only to the man who
can read it and know its every turn. Our views, without being
absolutely identical, must be the same in their breadth and elevation.
I have no wish to exaggerate my own merits; doubtless what seem
virtues in my eyes have their corresponding defects. All I can say is,
I should be heartbroken without them."
"Having first accepted me as your servant, you now permit me to love
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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 Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche: I am courteous towards them, as towards all small annoyances; to be prickly
towards what is small, seemeth to me wisdom for hedgehogs.
They all speak of me when they sit around their fire in the evening--they
speak of me, but no one thinketh--of me!
This is the new stillness which I have experienced: their noise around me
spreadeth a mantle over my thoughts.
They shout to one another: "What is this gloomy cloud about to do to us?
Let us see that it doth not bring a plague upon us!"
And recently did a woman seize upon her child that was coming unto me:
"Take the children away," cried she, "such eyes scorch children's souls."
They cough when I speak: they think coughing an objection to strong winds
Thus Spake Zarathustra |
