| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Alcibiades II by Platonic Imitator: how to go to war and how to kill, as well as of orators puffed up with
political pride, but in which not one of them all had this knowledge of the
best, and there was no one who could tell when it was better to apply any
of these arts or in regard to whom?
ALCIBIADES: I should call such a state bad, Socrates.
SOCRATES: You certainly would when you saw each of them rivalling the
other and esteeming that of the greatest importance in the state,
'Wherein he himself most excelled.' (Euripides, Antiope.)
--I mean that which was best in any art, while he was entirely ignorant of
what was best for himself and for the state, because, as I think, he trusts
to opinion which is devoid of intelligence. In such a case should we not
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: females contain? inform me with knowledge if ye tell the truth.' And
of camels two, and cows two; say, 'Are the two males unlawful, or
the two females, or what the wombs of the two females contain? Were ye
witnesses when God ordained for you these?- Then who is more unjust
than he who devises a lie against God, to lead men astray without
knowledge? verily, God guides not the unjust people.'
Say, 'I cannot find in what I am inspired with anything unlawful for
the taster to taste; unless it be dead (of itself), or blood that
has been shed, or the flesh of swine,- for that is a horror- or an
abomination that is consecrated to other than God. But he who is
forced, not wilfully nor transgressing,- then, verily, thy Lord is
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs: bed, the unfamiliar prospect from the opening at her feet.
Slowly the circumstances of her position crept one by one
into her mind. And then a great wonderment arose in her
heart--a mighty wave of thankfulness and gratitude that
though she had been in such terrible danger, yet she was unharmed.
She moved to the entrance of the shelter to look for Tarzan.
He was gone; but this time no fear assailed her for she
knew that he would return.
In the grass at the entrance to her bower she saw the imprint
of his body where he had lain all night to guard her.
She knew that the fact that he had been there was all that
Tarzan of the Apes |
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 Awakening & Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin: tearing it with her strong, white teeth. She poured some of the
wine into the glass and drank it down. Then she went softly out of
doors, and plucking an orange from the low-hanging bough of a tree,
threw it at Robert, who did not know she was awake and up.
An illumination broke over his whole face when he saw her and
joined her under the orange tree.
"How many years have I slept?" she inquired. "The whole
island seems changed. A new race of beings must have sprung up,
leaving only you and me as past relics. How many ages ago did
Madame Antoine and Tonie die? and when did our people from Grand
Isle disappear from the earth?"
Awakening & Selected Short Stories |
