| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Father Sergius by Leo Tolstoy: floor. They drove some seven miles out of town, and then stopped
and consulted as to whether they should turn back or drive
farther.
'But where does this road lead to?' asked Makovkina, the
beautiful divorcee.
'To Tambov, eight miles from here,' replied one of the lawyers,
who was having a flirtation with her.
'And then where?'
'Then on to L----, past the Monastery.'
'Where that Father Sergius lives?'
'Yes.'
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Pierrette by Honore de Balzac: After the remarks made at Madame Tiphaine's, Sylvie dared not flinch
from the three hundred francs for Pierrette's clothes. During the
first week her time was wholly taken up, and Pierrette's too, by
frocks to order and try on, chemises and petticoats to cut out and
have made by a seamstress who went out by the day. Pierrette did not
know how to sew.
"That's pretty bringing up!" said Rogron. "Don't you know how to do
anything, little girl?"
Pierrette, who knew nothing but how to love, made a pretty, childish
gesture.
"What did you do in Brittany?" asked Rogron.
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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 My Aunt Margaret's Mirror by Walter Scott: placed a human skull. But what struck the sisters most was a
very tall and broad mirror, which occupied all the space behind
the altar, and, illumined by the lighted torches, reflected the
mysterious articles which were laid upon it.
The master then placed himself between the two ladies, and,
pointing to the mirror, took each by the hand, but without
speaking a syllable. They gazed intently on the polished and
sable space to which he had directed their attention. Suddenly
the surface assumed a new and singular appearance. It no longer
simply reflected the objects placed before it, but, as if it had
self-contained scenery of its own, objects began to appear within
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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 Eryxias by Platonic Imitator: we may satisfy the desires and needs of the body in respect of our various
wants. And therefore if the possession of wealth is useful in ministering
to our bodily wants, and bodily wants were unknown to us, we should not
need wealth, and possibly there would be no such thing as wealth.
ERYXIAS: Clearly not.
SOCRATES: Then our conclusion is, as would appear, that wealth is what is
useful to this end?
Eryxias once more gave his assent, but the small argument considerably
troubled him.
SOCRATES: And what is your opinion about another question:--Would you say
that the same thing can be at one time useful and at another useless for
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