| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: is the one that prevails. The criminal (whose actions have really
been determined by the society around him) is cast out,
disacknowledged, and condemned to further isolation in a prison
cell. 'Property' again is the principle which rules and
determines our modern civilization--namely that which is proper
to, or can be appropriated by, each person, as AGAINST the
others.
In the moral world the doom of separation comes to us in the
shape of the sense of sin. For sin is separation. Sin is actually
(and that is its only real meaning) the separation from others,
and the non-acknowledgment of unity. And so it has come
Pagan and Christian Creeds |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: carriage full of Roman peasants. At one of these encounters,
accidentally or purposely, Albert's mask fell off. He
instantly rose and cast the remainder of the bouquets into
the carriage. Doubtless one of the charming females Albert
had detected beneath their coquettish disguise was touched
by his gallantry; for, as the carriage of the two friends
passed her, she threw a bunch of violets. Albert seized it,
and as Franz had no reason to suppose it was meant for him,
he suffered Albert to retain it. Albert placed it in his
button-hole, and the carriage went triumphantly on.
"Well," said Franz to him; "there is the beginning of an
The Count of Monte Cristo |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Hamlet by William Shakespeare: To morrow is S[aint]. Valentines day, all in the morning betime,
And I a Maid at your Window, to be your Valentine.
Then vp he rose, & don'd his clothes, & dupt the chamber dore,
Let in the Maid, that out a Maid, neuer departed more
King. Pretty Ophelia
Ophe. Indeed la? without an oath Ile make an end ont.
By gis, and by S[aint]. Charity,
Alacke, and fie for shame:
Yong men wil doo't, if they come too't,
By Cocke they are too blame.
Quoth she before you tumbled me,
Hamlet |
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 Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Alice Dunbar: to look upon the leaping waters, her eyes dancing.
"I know the bayou must be ready to overflow," went the letter in
the carefully phrased French that the brothers taught at the
parochial school, "and I am glad, for I want to see the dear
maman and my Louisette. I am not so well, and Monsieur le
docteur says it is well for me to go to the South again."
Monsieur le docteur! Sylves' not well! The thought struck a
chill to the hearts of Ma'am Mouton and Louisette, but not for
long. Of course, Sylves' was not well, he needed some of maman's
tisanes. Then he was homesick; it was to be expected.
At last the great day came, Sylves' would be home. The brown
The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories |
