Today's Stichomancy for Joseph Stalin

The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tik-Tok of Oz by L. Frank Baum:

were afraid to face It.

While he was thus defying the Nome King and his high officials, Betsy Bobbin rode calmly into the royal cavern, seated upon the back of Hank the mule. The little girl had grown tired of waiting for "something to happen" and so had come to see if Ruggedo had been conquered.

"Nails and nuggets!" roared the King; "how dare you bring that beast here and enter my presence unannounced?"

"There wasn't anybody to announce me, replied

Tik-Tok of Oz

The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte by Karl Marx:

moment. [#4 January, 1852]

The bulk of the Mountain had left its vanguard in the lurch by refusing their signatures to the proclamation; the press had deserted: only two papers dared to publish the pronunciamento; the small traders had betrayed their Representatives: the National Guards stayed away, or, where they did turn up, hindered the raising of barricades; the Representatives had duped the small traders: nowhere were the alleged affiliated members from the Army to be seen; finally, instead of gathering strength from them, the democratic party had infected the proletariat with its own weakness, and, as usual with democratic feats, the leaders had the satisfaction of charging "their people" with

The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Tanach:

Psalms 101: 3 I will set no base thing before mine eyes; I hate the doing of things crooked; it shall not cleave unto me.

Psalms 101: 4 A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil thing.

Psalms 101: 5 Whoso slandereth his neighbour in secret, him will I destroy; whoso is haughty of eye and proud of heart, him will I not suffer.

Psalms 101: 6 Mine eyes are upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he that walketh in a way of integrity, he shall minister unto me.

Psalms 101: 7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house; he that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes.

Psalms 101: 8 Morning by morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land; to cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the LORD.

Psalms 102: 1 (102:1) A Prayer of the afflicted, when he fainteth, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. (102:2) O LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee.

Psalms 102: 2 (102:3) Hide not Thy face from me in the day of my distress; incline Thine ear unto me; in the day when I call answer me speedily.

Psalms 102: 3 (102:4) For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as a hearth.

Psalms 102: 4 (102:5) My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; for I forget to eat my bread.

Psalms 102: 5 (102:6) By reason of the voice of my sighing my bones cleave to my flesh.

The Tanach

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 Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather:

The sight of you, Bartley, to see you living and happy and successful--can I never make you understand what that means to me?" She pressed his shoulders gently. "You see, loving some one as I love you makes the whole world different. If I'd met you later, if I hadn't loved you so well-- but that's all over, long ago. Then came all those years without you, lonely and hurt and discouraged; those decent young fellows and poor Mac, and me never heeding--hard as

Alexander's Bridge