| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Village Rector by Honore de Balzac: part on chestnuts.
Any one who has studied zoological productions in a museum, or become
personally aware of the indescribable depression caused by the brown
tones of all European products, will understand how the constant sight
of these gray, arid plains must have affected the moral nature of the
inhabitants, through the desolate sense of utter barrenness which they
present to the eye. There, in those dismal regions, is neither
coolness nor brightness, nor shade nor contrast,--none of all those
ideas and spectacles of Nature which awaken and rejoice the heart;
even a stunted apple-tree would be hailed as a friend.
A country road, recently made, runs through the centre of this great
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Sa: Manstin, with his own bright eyes fitted into his head again,
went on happily to hunt in the North country.
THE WARLIKE SEVEN
THE WARLIKE SEVEN
ONCE seven people went out to make war,--the Ashes, the Fire,
the Bladder, the Grasshopper, the Dragon Fly, the Fish, and the
Turtle. As they were talking excitedly, waving their fists in
violent gestures, a wind came and blew the Ashes away. "Ho!" cried
the others, "he could not fight, this one!"
The six went on running to make war more quickly. They
descended a deep valley, the Fire going foremost until they came to
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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 School For Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan: SIR PETER. Ah! I'll be present at your discovering yourself there
with all my heart; though 'tis a vile unlucky Place for discoveries.
SIR OLIVER. However it is very convenient to the carrying on of
my Plot that you all live so near one another!
[Exit SIR OLIVER.]
ROWLEY. We'll follow--
SIR PETER. She is not coming here you see, Rowley--
ROWLEY. No but she has left the Door of that Room open you
perceive.--see she is in Tears--!
SIR PETER. She seems indeed to wish I should go to her.--how
dejected she appears--
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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 Othello by William Shakespeare: Cannot remoue, nor choake the strong Conception
That I do grone withall. Thou art to dye
Des. O Heauen haue mercy on me
Oth. I say, Amen
Des. And haue you mercy too. I neuer did
Offend you in my life: neuer lou'd Cassio,
But with such generall warrantie of Heauen,
As I might loue. I neuer gaue him Token
Oth. By Heauen I saw my Handkerchiefe in's hand.
O periur'd woman, thou do'st stone my heart,
And makes me call, what I intend to do,
Othello |
