| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The United States Bill of Rights: or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
II
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war,
but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
IV
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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 Symposium by Xenophon: [16] Or, "and had a most hilarious and herbaceous time."
No fear of that (rejoined Niceratus). Always take a bite of onion
before speeding forth to battle, just as your patrons of the cock-pit
give their birds a feed of garlic[17] before they put them for the
fight. But for ourselves our thoughts are less intent perhaps on
dealing blows than blowing kisses.[18]
[17] Cf. Aristoph. "Knights," 494:
Chorus. And here's the garlic. Swallow it down!
Sausage Seller. . . . What for?
Chorus. It will prime you up and make you fight the better.
H. Frere.
The Symposium |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Ball at Sceaux by Honore de Balzac: "Couldn't you get out of the way?"
"I beg your pardon, monsieur. But I did not know that it lay with me
to apologize to you because you almost rode me down."
"There, enough of that, my good fellow!" replied the sailor harshly,
in a sneering tone that was nothing less than insulting. At the same
time the Count raised his hunting-crop as if to strike his horse, and
touched the young fellow's shoulder, saying, "A liberal citizen is a
reasoner; every reasoner should be prudent."
The young man went up the bankside as he heard the sarcasm; then he
crossed his arms, and said in an excited tone of voice, "I cannot
suppose, monsieur, as I look at your white hairs, that you still amuse
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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 The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James: this from Starbuck's manuscript collection:--
"I never lost the consciousness of the presence of God until I
stood at the foot of the Horseshoe Falls, Niagara. Then I lost
him in the immensity of what I saw. I also lost myself, feeling
that I was an atom too small for the notice of Almighty God."
I subjoin another similar case from Starbuck's collection:--
"In that time the consciousness of God's nearness came to me
sometimes. I say God, to describe what is indescribable. A
presence, I might say, yet that is too suggestive of personality,
and the moments of which I speak did not hold the consciousness
of a personality, but something in myself made me feel myself a
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