| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Princess of Parms by Edgar Rice Burroughs: I found, as I had expected, the usual carpet of moss-like
vegetation which would prove their food and drink until I
could return them to their own enclosure. That they would
be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was confident,
nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would
be discovered, as the green men had no great desire to enter
these outlying buildings, which were frequented by the
only thing, I believe, which caused them the sensation of
fear--the great white apes of Barsoom.
Removing the saddle trappings, I hid them just within
the rear doorway of the building through which we had
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Collection of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter: little birds flew by, from
bush to bush, searching for
green caterpillars and spiders.
There were several sorts of
little birds, twittering different
songs.
The first one sang--
"Who's bin digging-up MY
nuts? Who's-been-digging-
up MY nuts?"
And another sang--"Little
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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 Study of a Woman by Honore de Balzac: looked at the marquise, more than once, in a manner that embarrassed
her; then he left her and did not speak to her again for the rest of
the evening. He danced, played at ecarte, lost some money, and went
home to bed. I have the honor to assure you that the affair happened
precisely thus. I add nothing, and I suppress nothing.
The next morning Rastignac woke late and stayed in bed, giving himself
up to one of those matutinal reveries in the course of which a young
man glides like a sylph under many a silken, or cashmere, or cotton
drapery. The heavier the body from its weight of sleep, the more
active the mind. Rastignac finally got up, without yawning over-much
as many ill-bred persons are apt to do. He rang for his valet, ordered
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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 Emma McChesney & Co. by Edna Ferber: Spartan calm. The wedding was over. There had been a quiet
little celebration, after which Jock McChesney had gone West with
his very lovely young wife. Emma had kissed her very tenderly,
very soberly after the brief ceremony. "Mrs. McChesney," she
had said, and her voice shook ever so little; "Mrs. Jock
McChesney!" And the new Mrs. McChesney, a most astonishingly
intuitive young woman indeed, had understood.
T. A. Buck, being a man, puzzled over it a little. That night,
when Emma had reached the kimono and hair-brushing stage, he
ventured to speak his wonderment.
"D'you know, Emma, you were about the calmest and most serene
Emma McChesney & Co. |
