| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Young Forester by Zane Grey: stone and looked around again. The bear was now close to me. I saw the
heavy chain and the log to which it was attached. He looked at trap and log
in a grave, pathetic way, as if trying to reason about them. Then he roused
into furious action, swinging the trap, dragging the log, and bellowing in
such a frightful manner that I dodged back behind the wall.
But this sudden change in the bear, this appalling roar with its note of
pain, awakened me to his suffering. When the noise stopped and I looked
again, the bear was a sight not to be forgotten. He showed a helpless,
terrible fear of the steel-jawed thing on his foot. He dropped down on the
sand with a groan, and there was a despairing look in his eyes.
This made me forget my fear, and I had only one thought--to put him out of
The Young Forester |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from King James Bible: people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
PSA 53:5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath
scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put
them to shame, because God hath despised them.
PSA 53:6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When
God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and
Israel shall be glad.
PSA 54:1 Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
PSA 54:2 Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
PSA 54:3 For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek
after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.
King James Bible |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Father Damien by Robert Louis Stevenson: "dear brother" - a brother indeed - made haste to deliver up your
letter (as a means of grace, perhaps) to the religious papers;
where, after many months, I found and read and wondered at it; and
whence I have now reproduced it for the wonder of others. And you
and your dear brother have, by this cycle of operations, built up a
contrast very edifying to examine in detail. The man whom you
would not care to have to dinner, on the one side; on the other,
the Reverend Dr. Hyde and the Reverend H. B. Gage: the Apia bar-
room, the Honolulu manse.
But I fear you scarce appreciate how you appear to your fellow-men;
and to bring it home to you, I will suppose your story to be true.
|
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 Ivanhoe by Walter Scott: ``Let me pass, woman! stop me not at your peril.
I am fresh from my holy office, and would avoid
pollution.''
``Come this way, father,'' said the old hag, ``thou
art a stranger in this castle, and canst not leave it
without a guide. Come hither, for I would speak
with thee.---And you, daughter of an accursed race,
go to the sick man's chamber, and tend him until
my return; and woe betide you if you again quit
it without my permission!''
Rebecca retreated. Her importunities had prevailed
Ivanhoe |
