| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Seraphita by Honore de Balzac: the depths of the silent woods. His complexion was of marvellous
whiteness, which brought out vividly the coral lips, the brown
eyebrows, and the silken lashes, the only colors that trenched upon
the paleness of that face, whose perfect regularity did not detract
from the grandeur of the sentiments expressed in it; nay, thought and
emotion were reflected there, without hindrance or violence, with the
majestic and natural gravity which we delight in attributing to
superior beings. That face of purest marble expressed in all things
strength and peace.
Minna rose to take the hand of Seraphitus, hoping thus to draw him to
her, and to lay on that seductive brow a kiss given more from
Seraphita |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Bab:A Sub-Deb, Mary Roberts Rinehart by Mary Roberts Rinehart: "Evadently," I said, "I am not a real Person."
"Well, I wouldn't go as far as that. But there isn't much left of
the way God made a girl, by the time she's been curled and dressed
and governessed for years, is there? They can't even walk, but they
talk about helping in the War. It makes me sick!"
I now saw that I had made a mistake, and began reading a Magazine,
so he went back to his seat and we were as strangers again. As I
was very angry I again opened my window, and he got a cinder in his
eye and had to have the Porter get it out.
He got out soon after, and he had the impertinance to stop beside
me and say:
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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 Schoolmistress and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov: from owning it to yourself. . . ."
Nadya felt sorry for herself, she began to cry, and went on:
"It is hard for me to leave my mother and my brother, or I should
take a nun's veil and go whither chance may lead me. And you
would be left free and would love another. Oh, if I were dead! "
She could not make out what she had written through her tears;
little rainbows were quivering on the table, on the floor, on the
ceiling, as though she were looking through a prism. She could
not write, she sank back in her easy-chair and fell to thinking
of Gorny.
My God! how interesting, how fascinating men were! Nadya recalled
The Schoolmistress and Other Stories |
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 Koran: wherein ye disagree. And as for those who misbelieve, I will punish
them with grievous punishment in this world and the next, and they
shall have none to help them.' But as for those who believe and do
what is right, He will pay them their reward, for God loves not the
unjust.
That is what we recite to thee of the signs and of the wise
reminder. Verily the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness
of Adam. He created him from earth, then He said to him BE, and he
was;- the truth from thy Lord, so be thou not of those who are in
doubt. And whoso disputeth with thee after what has come to thee of
knowledge, say, 'Come, let us call our sons and your sons, and our
The Koran |
