| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Alkahest by Honore de Balzac: and love exclusively. Though he had studied chemistry with such ardor
that Lavoisier commended him, he deserted science and his master for
those mistresses of fashion and good taste from whom young men take
finishing lessons in knowledge of life, and learn the usages of good
society, which in Europe forms, as it were, one family.
The intoxicating dream of social success lasted but a short time.
Balthazar left Paris, weary of a hollow existence which suited neither
his ardent soul nor his loving heart. Domestic life, so calm, so
tender, which the very name of Flanders recalled to him, seemed far
more fitted to his character and to the aspirations of his heart. No
gilded Parisian salon had effaced from his mind the harmonies of the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: by the savages.
Descending a knoll he entered a glade where the trees grew farther apart and
the underbrush was only knee high. The black soil showed that the tract of
land had been burned over. On the banks of a babbling brook which wound its
way through this open space, the hunter found tracks which brought an.
exclamation from him. Clearly defined in the soft earth was the impress of a
white man's moccasin. The footprints of an Indian toe inward. Those of a white
man are just the opposite. A little farther on Wetzel came to a slight
crushing of the moss, where he concluded some heavy body had fallen. As he had
seen the tracks of a buck and doe all the way down the brook he thought it
probable one of them had been shot by the white hunter. He found a pool of
Betty Zane |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Life of the Spider by J. Henri Fabre: CHAPTER VI: THE NARBONNE LYCOSA: THE CLIMBING-INSTINCT
The month of March comes to an end; and the departure of the
youngsters begins, in glorious weather, during the hottest hours of
the morning. Laden with her swarming burden, the mother Lycosa is
outside her burrow, squatting on the parapet at the entrance. She
lets them do as they please; as though indifferent to what is
happening, she exhibits neither encouragement nor regret. Whoso
will goes; whoso will remains behind.
First these, then those, according as they feel themselves duly
soaked with sunshine, the little ones leave the mother in batches,
run about for a moment on the ground and then quickly reach the
The Life of the Spider |
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 The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: noise, and so the Wizard's enemies did not suspect his presence. But
when they sat down by the edge of the clearing, to talk, with their
backs toward him, the Wizard did not know whether to risk being seen,
by creeping closer to hear what they said, or whether it would be
better for him to hide himself until they moved on again.
While he considered this question he discovered near him a great
tree which had a hollow trunk, and there was a round hole in this
tree, about three feet above the ground. The Wizard Fox decided it
would be safer for him to hide inside the hollow tree, so he sprang
into the hole and crouched down in the hollow, so that his eyes just
came to the edge of the hole by which he had entered, and from here he
The Magic of Oz |
