| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Before Adam by Jack London: arboreal ancestors who struck bottom died forthwith.
True, the shock of their fall was communicated to the
cerebral cells, but they died immediately, before they
could have progeny. You and I are descended from those
that did not strike bottom; that is why you and I, in
our dreams, never strike bottom.
And now we come to disassociation of personality. We
never have this sense of falling when we are wide
awake. Our wake-a-day personality has no experience of
it. Then--and here the argument is irresistible--it
must be another and distinct personality that falls
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Youth by Joseph Conrad: while on deck and cling to our bunks when below, in a
constant effort of body and worry of mind.
"One night Mahon spoke through the small window
of my berth. It opened right into my very bed, and I
was lying there sleepless, in my boots, feeling as though
I had not slept for years, and could not if I tried. He
said excitedly--
"'You got the sounding-rod in here, Marlow? I can't
get the pumps to suck. By God! it's no child's play.'
"I gave him the sounding-rod and lay down again,
trying to think of various things--but I thought only
Youth |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum: "Is that the way we go?" asked Bungle anxiously.
"No," said Ojo; "I think we shall keep straight
ahead, for this path is the widest and best.
When we come to some house we will inquire
the way to the Emerald City."
Chapter Eight
The foolish Owl and the Wise Donkey
On they went, and half an hour's steady walking
brought them to a house somewhat better than the
two they had already passed. It stood close to the
roadside and over the door was a sign that read:
The Patchwork Girl of Oz |
