| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Moral Emblems by Robert Louis Stevenson: And, free from pettiness and rancour,
Takes lodgings at the 'Crown and Anchor.'
Strange, when a man so great and good
Once more in his home-country stood,
Strange that the sordid clowns should show
A dull desire to have him go.
His clinging breeks, his tarry hat,
The way he swore, the way he spat,
A certain quality of manner,
Alarming like the pirate's banner -
Something that did not seem to suit all -
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Shadow out of Time by H. P. Lovecraft: of reality was hideous - and again becomes so as I recall the
scene.
At length I tremblingly pulled the book from its container
and stared fascinatedly at the well-known hieroglyphs on the cover.
It seemed to be in prime condition, and the curvilinear letters
of the title held me in almost as hypnotised a state as if I could
read them. Indeed, I cannot swear that I did not actually read
them in some transient and terrible access of abnormal memory.
I do not know how long it was before I dared to lift that thin
metal cover. I temporized and made excuses to myself. I took the
torch from my mouth and shut it off to save the battery. Then,
Shadow out of Time |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: death.
My father followed Susannah, with his night-gown across his arm, with
nothing more than his breeches on, fastened through haste with but a single
button, and that button through haste thrust only half into the button-
hole.
--She has not forgot the name, cried my father, half opening the door?--No,
no, said the curate, with a tone of intelligence.--And the child is better,
cried Susannah.--And how does your mistress? As well, said Susannah, as
can be expected.--Pish! said my father, the button of his breeches slipping
out of the button-hole--So that whether the interjection was levelled at
Susannah, or the button-hole--whether Pish was an interjection of contempt
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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 King James Bible: JDG 11:17 Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying,
Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would
not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab:
but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
JDG 11:18 Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed
the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the
land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not
within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.
JDG 11:19 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites,
the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray
thee, through thy land into my place.
King James Bible |
