| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Chita: A Memory of Last Island by Lafcadio Hearn: then to tell of dreams; the child might die. In one instant
Carmen's quick, deft hands had stripped the slender little body;
and while Mateo and Feliu were finding dry clothing and
stimulants, and Miguel telling how it all happened--quickly,
passionately, with furious gesture,--the kind and vigorous woman
exerted all her skill to revive the flickering life. Soon Feliu
came to aid her, while his men set to work completing the
interrupted preparation of the breakfast. Flannels were heated
for the friction of the frail limbs; and brandy-and-water warmed,
which Carmen administered by the spoonful, skilfully as any
physician,--until, at last, the little creature opened her eyes
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: motionless, and her sister fancied that she was asleep, till a stifled
sob made her exclaim, as she touched a wet cheek...
"Jo, dear, what is it? Are you crying about father?"
"No, not now."
"What then?"
"My...My hair!" burst out poor Jo, trying vainly to smother
her emotion in the pillow.
It did not seem at all comical to Meg, who kissed and caressed
the afflicted heroine in the tenderest manner.
"I'm not sorry," protested Jo, with a choke. "I'd do it again
tomorrow, if I could. It's only the vain part of me that goes and
Little Women |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather: scarf on her hair. She had such a flavor
of life about her. She had known Gordon and
Livingstone and Beaconsfield when she was
young,--every one. She was the first woman
of that sort I'd ever known. You know how it
is in the West,--old people are poked out of
the way. Aunt Eleanor fascinated me as few
young women have ever done. I used to go up from
the works to have tea with her, and sit talking
to her for hours. It was very stimulating,
for she couldn't tolerate stupidity."
Alexander's Bridge |
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 Confidence by Henry James: "I wish you would listen to it."
"Is it something very horrible?" Angela asked.
"Something very horrible indeed. I once did you an injury."
"An injury?" she repeated, in a tone which seemed to reduce
the offence to contemptible proportions by simple vagueness
of mind about it.
"I don't know what to call it," said Bernard. "A poor service--
an ill-turn."
Angela gave a shrug, or rather an imitation of a shrug;
for she was not a shrugging person.
"I never knew it."
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