| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Confidence by Henry James: He spent a portion of every day in the company of these dear women;
and these days were the happiest of his life. The autumn weather
was warm and soothing, the quartier was still deserted, and the uproar
of the great city, which seemed a hundred miles away, reached them
through the dense October air with a softened and muffled sound.
The evenings, however, were growing cool, and before long they
lighted the first fire of the season in Mrs. Vivian's heavily draped
little chimney-piece. On this occasion Bernard sat there with Angela,
watching the bright crackle of the wood and feeling that the charm
of winter nights had begun. These two young persons were alone together
in the gathering dusk; it was the hour before dinner, before the lamp 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 The Memorabilia by Xenophon: violence or by fraud; but those who have the special knowledge[13] how
to rule. Thus having won the admission that it is the function of a
ruler to enjoin what ought to be done, and of those who are ruled to
obey, he proceeded to point out by instances that in a ship the ruler
or captain is the man of special knowledge, to whom, as an expert, the
shipowner himself and all the others on board obey. So likewise, in
the matter of husbandry, the proprietor of an estate; in that of
sickness, the patient; in that of physical training of the body, the
youthful athlete going through a course; and, in general, every one
directly concerned in any matter needing attention and care will
either attend to this matter personally, if he thinks he has the
The Memorabilia |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Prufrock/Other Observations by T. S. Eliot: Slips out its tongue
And devours a morsel of rancid butter."
So the hand of a child, automatic
Slipped out and pocketed a toy that was running along the quay.
I could see nothing behind that child’s eye.
I have seen eyes in the street
Trying to peer through lighted shutters,
And a crab one afternoon in a pool,
An old crab with barnacles on his back,
Gripped the end of a stick which I held him.
Half-past three,
Prufrock/Other Observations |
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 In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: a really good hotel and find some wealthy man...like the strange man this
morning. He would be ideal. Oh, if I only had his address--I am sure I
would fascinate him. I'd keep him laughing all day--I'd make him give me
unlimited money..." At the thought she grew warm and soft. She began to
dream of a wonderful house, and of presses full of clothes and of perfumes.
She saw herself stepping into carriages--looking at the strange man with a
mysterious, voluptuous glance--she practised the glance, lying on the bed--
and never another worry, just drugged with happiness. That was the life
for her. Well, the thing to do was to let Casimir go on his wild-goose
chase that evening, and while he was away--What! Also--please to remember
--there was the rent to be paid before twelve next morning, and she hadn't
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