| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: for the reward of the future we will give him of it, and we will
recompense the grateful.
How many prophets have myriads fought against! yet they did not give
way at what befel them in God's way Nor were they weak, nor did they
demean themselves:- God loves the patient. And their word was only
to say, 'Lord, forgive us our sins and our extravagance in our
affairs; and make firm our footing, and help us against the
misbelieving folk!' and God gave them the reward of this world, and
good reward for the future too, for God doth love the kind.
O ye who believe! if ye obey those who misbelieve, they will turn
you back upon your heels, and ye will retreat the losers. Nay, God
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: with which an indulgent husband had desired to keep her provided.
On the 21st of August Lord Lambeth received a telegram from his mother,
requesting him to return immediately to England; his father had been
taken ill, and it was his filial duty to come to him.
The young Englishman was visibly annoyed. "What the deuce does it mean?"
he asked of his kinsman. "What am I to do?"
Percy Beaumont was annoyed as well; he had deemed it his duty,
as I have narrated, to write to the duchess, but he had not expected
that this distinguished woman would act so promptly upon his hint.
"It means," he said, "that your father is laid up.
I don't suppose it's anything serious; but you have no option.
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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 Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche: assuredly they will be men of experiments. By the name with which
I ventured to baptize them, I have already expressly emphasized
their attempting and their love of attempting is this because, as
critics in body and soul, they will love to make use of
experiments in a new, and perhaps wider and more dangerous sense?
In their passion for knowledge, will they have to go further in
daring and painful attempts than the sensitive and pampered taste
of a democratic century can approve of?--There is no doubt these
coming ones will be least able to dispense with the serious and
not unscrupulous qualities which distinguish the critic from the
skeptic I mean the certainty as to standards of worth, the
Beyond Good and Evil |
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 Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: sort was sold up 'bout five years ago."
"Well, there's scientific research."
"And who pays for that? Who put up that big City and Guilds
place at South Kensington? Enterprising business men! They
fancy they'll have a bit of science going on, they want a handy
Expert ever and again, and there you are! And what do you get
for research when you've done it? Just a bare living and no
outlook. They just keep you to make discoveries, and if they
fancy they'll use 'em they do."
"One can teach."
"How much a year, George? How much a year? I suppose you must
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