| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: "On board!" "It's not a very good ladder, but it's quite firm,"
says I, as he seemed to be afraid of it. And he didn't look a
broken-down old man, either. You can see yourself what he is.
Straight as a poker, and life enough in him yet. But he made no
move, and I began to feel foolish. Then she comes forward. "Oh!
Thank you, Mr. Franklin. I'll help my father up." Flabbergasted
me--to be choked off like this. Pushed in between him and me
without as much as a look my way. So of course I dropped it. What
do you think? I fell back. I would have gone up on board at once
and left them on the quay to come up or stay there till next week,
only they were blocking the way. I couldn't very well shove them on
Chance |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Animal Farm by George Orwell: (for it is not easy for a pig to balance himself on a ladder) Snowball
climbed up and set to work, with Squealer a few rungs below him holding
the paint-pot. The Commandments were written on the tarred wall in great
white letters that could be read thirty yards away. They ran thus:
THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
Animal Farm |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Lucile by Owen Meredith: "Yes, yes! . . . you are sad--because knowledge is sad!"
He could not have read more profoundly her heart.
"What gave you," she cried, with a terrified start,
"Such strange power?"
"To read in your thoughts?" he exclaim'd
"O lady,--a love, deep, profound--be it blamed
Or rejected,--a love, true, intense--such, at least,
As you, and you only, could wake in my breast!"
"Hush, hush! . . . I beseech you . . . for pity!' she gasp'd,
Snatching hurriedly from him the hand he had clasp'd,
In her effort instinctive to fly from the spot.
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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 A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: his companion.
"O! my lord," said the soldier, in a sort of enthusiasm, "their
behaviour on pay-day might be a pattern to all Europe--no
borrowings, no lendings, no offsets no arrears--all balanced and
paid like a banker's book. The quarters, too, are excellent, and
the allowances unchallengeable; but then, sir, they are a
preceese, scrupulous people, and will allow nothing for
peccadilloes. So that if a boor complains of a broken head, or a
beer-seller of a broken can, or a daft wench does but squeak loud
enough to be heard above her breath, a soldier of honour shall be
dragged, not before his own court-martial, who can best judge of
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