| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Apology by Plato: wiser man than himself. Yet this singular and almost accidental character
of his mission agrees with the divine sign which, according to our notions,
is equally accidental and irrational, and is nevertheless accepted by him
as the guiding principle of his life. Socrates is nowhere represented to
us as a freethinker or sceptic. There is no reason to doubt his sincerity
when he speculates on the possibility of seeing and knowing the heroes of
the Trojan war in another world. On the other hand, his hope of
immortality is uncertain;--he also conceives of death as a long sleep (in
this respect differing from the Phaedo), and at last falls back on
resignation to the divine will, and the certainty that no evil can happen
to the good man either in life or death. His absolute truthfulness seems
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Vailima Letters by Robert Louis Stevenson: jealous of news. Graham and I got into the saddle about 1
o'clock and off down to town. In town, there was nothing but
rumours going; in the night drums had been beat, the men had
run to arms on Mulinuu from as far as Vaiala, and the alarm
proved false. There were no signs of any gathering in Apia
proper, and the Secretary of State had no news to give. I
believed him, too, for we are brither Scots. Then the
temptation came upon me strong to go on to the ford and see
the Mataafa villages, where we heard there was more afoot.
Off we rode. When we came to Vaimusu, the houses were very
full of men, but all seemingly unarmed. Immediately beyond
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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 King James Bible: fathers.
CH1 24:5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the
governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of
the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
CH1 24:6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the
Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the
priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the
fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken
for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
CH1 24:7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to
Jedaiah,
King James Bible |
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 Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: he suffered hunger and want.
Now, the afflictions of the believers always offend people. Paul knew it and
therefore has high praise for the Galatians because they over looked his
afflictions and received him like an angel. Christ forewarned the faithful
against the offense of the Cross, saying: "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not
be offended in me." (Matt. 11:6.) Surely it is no easy thing to confess Him
Lord of all and Savior of the world who was a reproach of men, and
despised of the people, and the laughing stock of the world. (Ps. 22:7.) I say,
to value this poor Christ, so spitefully scorned, spit upon, scourged, and
crucified, more than the riches of the richest, the strength of the strongest,
the wisdom of the wisest, is something. It is worth being called blessed.
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