| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Crowd by Gustave le Bon: opinions other than those which are imposed upon them, and that
it is not with rules based on theories of pure equity that they
are to be led, but by seeking what produces an impression on them
and what seduces them. For instance, should a legislator,
wishing to impose a new tax, choose that which would be
theoretically the most just? By no means. In practice the most
unjust may be the best for the masses. Should it at the same
time be the least obvious, and apparently the least burdensome,
it will be the most easily tolerated. It is for this reason that
an indirect tax, however exorbitant it be, will always be
accepted by the crowd, because, being paid daily in fractions of
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: "He'll remember it," he muttered, turning to the sergeant major.
The latter pointed at Nekhludoff by a look, and Petrov knitted
his brows and went out through a door at the back.
"Who will remember it? Why do they all seem so confused? Why did
the sergeant-major make a sign to him? Nekhludoff thought.
The sergeant-major, again addressing Nekhludoff, said: "You
cannot meet here; please step across to the office." And
Nekhludoff was about to comply when the inspector came out of the
door at the back, looking even more confused than his
subordinates, and sighing continually. When he saw Nekhludoff he
turned to the jailer.
Resurrection |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Mother by Owen Wister: cent.'"
"'Why, there are some six per cent bonds!' I said; and I pointed them out
to him."
"'Selling at 137 7-8, you see,' said Mr. Beverly. 'Deducting the tax,
there you are scaled down again.' He pencilled some swift calculations.
'There,' said he. And I nearly understood them. 'Now I'm not here to stop
your buying that sort of petticoat and canary-bird wafer,' continued Mr.
Beverly. 'It's the regular trustee move, and nobody could criticise you
if you made it. It's what I call thoughtless safety, and it brings you
about 3 1-2 per cent, as I have already shown you. Anybody can do it.'"
These words of Mr. Beverly made me feel that I did not want to do what
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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 Letters from England by Elizabeth Davis Bancroft: Thursday, the day before Christmas, to dine, and to remain until the
following Tuesday morning. His place is at East SHEEN, which
receives its name from the Anglo-Saxon word for BEAUTY. It adjoins
Richmond Park, beyond which is the celebrated Richmond Hill,
Twickenham, Kew, etc., etc. . . . We arrived at East Sheen at half-
past five; but I ought first to mention the PREPARATIONS for a
country excursion. Our own carriage has, of course, no dickey for
my maid, or conveniences for luggage, so we take a travelling
carriage. The imperials (which are large, flat boxes, covering the
whole top of the carriage, CAPITAL for velvet dresses, and smaller
ones fitting into all the seats IN the carriage, and BEFORE and
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