| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Blue Flower by Henry van Dyke: I have borrowed a symbol from the old
German poet and philosopher, Novalis, to stand instead of a
name. The Blue Flower which he used in his romance of
Heinrich von Ofterdingen to symbolise Poetry, the object of
his young hero's quest, I have used here to signify happiness,
the satisfaction of the heart.
Reader, will you take the book and see if it belongs to
you? Whether it does or not, my wish is that the Blue Flower
may grow in the garden where you work.
AVALON,
December 1, 1902.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: I daresay it is very wicked and critical of me to ask for
anything else. But I was always critical, and I freely confess
to the sin of being fastidious. I am told there is some remarkably
superior second-rate society provided here for strangers.
Merci! I don't want any superior second-rate society.
I want the society that I have been accustomed to."
"I hope you don't call Lambeth and me second rate," Beaumont interposed.
"Oh, I am accustomed to you," said Mrs. Westgate. "Do you know
that you English sometimes make the most wonderful speeches?
The first time I came to London I went out to dine--as I told you,
I have received a great deal of attention. After dinner,
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen: that very chair, and told his story, Clarke had interrupted him
at a point a little subsequent to this, had cut short his words
in a paroxysm of horror. "My God!" he had exclaimed, "think,
think what you are saying. It is too incredible, too
monstrous; such things can never be in this quiet world, where
men and women live and die, and struggle, and conquer, or maybe
fail, and fall down under sorrow, and grieve and suffer strange
fortunes for many a year; but not this, Phillips, not such
things as this. There must be some explanation, some way out
of the terror. Why, man, if such a case were possible, our
earth would be a nightmare."
The Great God Pan |
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 Rig Veda: Steer I follow.
3 How hast thou, follower of the Law eternal, become the knower
of a
new song, Agni?
The God, the Guardian of the seasons, knows me: the Lord of
him who
won this wealth I know not.
4 Who, Agni, in alliance with thy foeman, what splendid helpers
won
for them their riches?
Agni, who guard the dwelling-place of falsehood? Who are protectors
The Rig Veda |
