| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy: inn that had a public bar attached to it. The inn
was kept by a fat man from the town, Vladimir,
and he knew Stepan. He knew that Stepan had
been put into prison through ill luck, and did not
mind giving him shelter for the night. He was
a rich man, and had persuaded his neighbour's
wife to leave her husband and come to live with
him. She lived in his house as his wife, and
helped him in his business as well.
Stepan knew all about the innkeeper's affairs--
how he had wronged the peasant, and how the
The Forged Coupon |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Sarrasine by Honore de Balzac: "And he kissed her, despite La Zambinella's efforts to avoid that
passionate caress.
" 'Tell me that you are a demon, that I must give you my fortune, my
name, all my renown! Would you have me cease to be a sculptor? Speak.'
" 'Suppose I were not a woman?' queried La Zambinella, timidly, in a
sweet, silvery voice.
" 'A merry jest!' cried Sarrasine. 'Think you that you can deceive an
artist's eye? Have I not, for ten days past, admired, examined,
devoured, thy perfections? None but a woman can have this soft and
beautifully rounded arm, these graceful outlines. Ah! you seek
compliments!'
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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 Collected Articles by Frederick Douglass: He went on with his duty--examining several colored passengers
before reaching me. He was somewhat harsh in tome and peremptory
in manner until he reached me, when, strange enough, and to my surprise
and relief, his whole manner changed. Seeing that I did not readily
produce my free papers, as the other colored persons in the car had done,
he said to me, in friendly contrast with his bearing toward the others:
"I suppose you have your free papers?"
To which I answered:
"No sir; I never carry my free papers to sea with me."
"But you have something to show that you are a freeman, haven't you?"
"Yes, sir," I answered; "I have a paper with the American Eagle on it,
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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 Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: in my soul, I would tear it out by the roots, throw it forth and
stamp on it.
"They're queer people--colonials," said Rabbits, "very queer.
When I was at Templemorton I see something of 'em. Queer
fellows, some of 'em. Very respectful of course, free with their
money in a spasammy sort of way, but-- Some of 'em, I must
confess, make me nervous. They have an eye on you. They watch
you--as you wait. They let themselves appear to be lookin' at
you..."
My mother said nothing in that discussion. The word colonies
always upset her. She was afraid, I think, that if she turned
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