| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Human Drift by Jack London: than my share.
Furthermore, I was on a hair-trigger of resentment myself. I knew
better than to accept any abuse or the slightest patronizing. At
the first hint of such, I went off-- I exploded. I might be
beaten in the subsequent fight, but I left the impression that I
was a wild-cat and that I would just as willingly fight again. My
intention was to demonstrate that I would tolerate no imposition.
I proved that the man who imposed on me must have a fight on his
hands. And doing my work well, the innate justice of the men,
assisted by their wholesome dislike for a clawing and rending
wild-cat ruction, soon led them to give over their hectoring.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Records of a Family of Engineers by Robert Louis Stevenson: only the most untoward accident in the landing of the
machinery could prevent the exhibition of the light in the
course of the winter, Mr. John Reid, formerly of the floating
light, was now put in charge of the lighthouse as principal
keeper; Mr. James Slight had charge of the operations of the
artificers, while Mr. James Dove and the smiths, having
finished the frame of the light-room, left the rock for the
present. With these arrangements the writer bade adieu to the
works for the season. At eleven a.m. the tide was far
advanced; and there being now little or no shelter for the
boats at the rock, they had to be pulled through the breach of
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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 The Koran: for them is pardon and a mighty hire. But those who disbelieve and
call our signs lies, these are the fellows of hell.
O ye who believe! remember God's favour towards you, when a people
intended to stretch their hands against you, but He withheld their
hands from you; and upon God let believers rely.
God did take a compact from the children of Israel, and raised up of
them twelve wardens; and God said, 'Verily, I am with you, if ye be
steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and believe in my apostles, and
assist them, and lend to God a goodly loan; then will I cover your
offences and make you enter gardens beneath which rivers flow: and
whoso disbelieves after that, he hath erred from the level way.
The Koran |
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 Lemorne Versus Huell by Elizabeth Drew Stoddard: "I'll adopt some boys to inherit what I shall save from his
clutches."
The bath fatigued her so she remained in her room for the rest
of the day; but she kept me busy with a hundred trifles. I wrote
for her, computed interest, studied out bills of fare, till four
o'clock came, and with it a fog. Nevertheless I must ride on the
Avenue, and the carriage was ordered.
"Wear your silk, Margaret; it will just about last your visit
through--the fog will use it up."
"I am glad of it," I answered.
"You will ride every day. Wear the bonnet I bought for you also."
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