| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: pastors and bishops no longer sat over the Word of God. No wonder they
failed to understand Paul.
When Paul speaks of the infirmity of his flesh he does not mean some
physical defect or carnal lust, but the sufferings and afflictions which he
endured in his body. What these infirmities were he himself explains in
II Corinthians 12:9, 10: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." And in
the eleventh chapter of the same Epistle the Apostle writes: "In labors
more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Jolly Corner by Henry James: indubitably he felt, as he might have said in a commoner cause,
better; it had allowed him to stop and draw breath, and the case
increased with the sight of the old black-and-white slabs. But
what he most felt was that now surely, with the element of impunity
pulling him as by hard firm hands, the case was settled for what he
might have seen above had he dared that last look. The closed
door, blessedly remote now, was still closed - and he had only in
short to reach that of the house.
He came down further, he crossed the passage forming the access to
the last flight and if here again he stopped an instant it was
almost for the sharpness of the thrill of assured escape. It made
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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 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
She Ile sweare hath Cornes: am I come neare ye now?
Welcome Gentlemen, I haue seene the day
That I haue worne a Visor, and could tell
A whispering tale in a faire Ladies eare:
Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone,
You are welcome Gentlemen, come Musitians play:
Musicke plaies: and they dance.
A Hall, Hall, giue roome, and foote it Girles,
More light you knaues, and turne the Tables vp:
And quench the fire, the Roome is growne too hot.
Romeo and Juliet |
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 Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum: of his companions. Dorothy and Button-Bright were glad to get theirs;
but Polly was satisfied with a small bite, and Toto did not like apples.
"Do you know," asked the Rainbow's Daughter, "if this is the right
road to the Emerald City?"
"No, I don't," replied Dorothy, "but it's the only road in this part
of the country, so we may as well go to the end of it."
"It looks now as if it might end pretty soon," remarked the shaggy man;
"and what shall we do if it does?"
"Don't know," said Button-Bright.
"If I had my Magic Belt," replied Dorothy, thoughtfully, "it could do
us a lot of good just now."
The Road to Oz |
