| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from God The Invisible King by H. G. Wells: many faceted indeed, be nevertheless a soul like our own?
Here, as in the case of Professor Metchnikoff, and in many other
cases of atheism, it seems to me that nothing but an inadequate
understanding of individuation bars the way to at least the
intellectual recognition of the true God.
6. RELIGION AS ETHICS
And while I am dealing with rationalists, let me note certain recent
interesting utterances of Sir Harry Johnston's. You will note that
while in this book we use the word "God" to indicate the God of the
Heart, Sir Harry uses "God" for that idea of God-of-the-Universe,
which we have spoken of as the Infinite Being. This use of the word
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: could be and uttered a wild cry of ecstasy when I distinguished
a sledge and the distorted proportions of a well-known form within.
Oh! With what a burning gush did hope revisit my heart! Warm tears
filled my eyes, which I hastily wiped away, that they might not intercept
the view I had of the daemon; but still my sight was dimmed by the burning
drops, until, giving way to the emotions that oppressed me, I wept aloud.
But this was not the time for delay; I disencumbered the dogs o
f their dead companion, gave them a plentiful portion of food,
and after an hour's rest, which was absolutely necessary, and yet
which was bitterly irksome to me, I continued my route. The sledge
was still visible, nor did I again lose sight of it except at the
Frankenstein |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Salome by Oscar Wilde: SECOND SOLDAT. Il regarde quelqu'un.
PREMIER SOLDAT. Qui regarde-t-il?
SECOND SOLDAT. Je ne sais pas.
LE JEUNE SYRIEN. Comme la princesse est pale! Jamais je ne l'ai
vue si pale. Elle ressemble au reflet d'une rose blanche dans un
miroir d'argent
LE PAGE D'HERODIAS. Il ne faut pas la regarder. Vous la regardez
trop!
PREMIER SOLDAT. Herodias a verse e boire au tetrarque.
LE CAPPADOCIEN. C'est la reine Herodias, celle-le qui porte la
mitre noire semee de perles et qui a les cheveux poudrees de bleu?
|
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 Complete Angler by Izaak Walton: Here are no false entrapping baits,
To hasten too, too hasty Fates,
Unless it be
The fond credulity
Of silly fish, which worldling like, still look
Upon the bait, but never on the hook;
Nor envy, unless among
The birds, for prize of their sweet song.
Go, let the diving negro seek
For gems, hid in some forlorn creek:
We all pearls scorn,
|
