| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: struggle against these men when the gods themselves have declared
for them? Surely the gods can take their own parts if they wish
it, and if they will not, for myself and my own fate I do not care,
but alas! for my people, alas! for the women and the children, the
aged and the weak.'
Then he would cover his face and moan and weep like a child, and
Guatemoc would pass from his presence dumb with fury at the folly
of so great a king, but helpless to remedy it. For like myself,
Guatemoc believed that Montezuma had been smitten with a madness
sent from heaven to bring the land to ruin.
Now it must be understood that though my place as a god gave me
Montezuma's Daughter |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: expeditiously made the tea himself. The cups and saucers were laid
ready. He poured it out, and handed me a cup.
'Wash away your spleen,' he said. 'And help your own naughty pet
and mine. It is not poisoned, though I prepared it. I'm going out
to seek your horses.'
Our first thought, on his departure, was to force an exit
somewhere. We tried the kitchen door, but that was fastened
outside: we looked at the windows - they were too narrow for even
Cathy's little figure.
'Master Linton,' I cried, seeing we were regularly imprisoned, 'you
know what your diabolical father is after, and you shall tell us,
Wuthering Heights |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Secret Places of the Heart by H. G. Wells: know and seeing houses and parks and villages and towns for
which you do not feel in the slightest degree responsible.
They hide all their troubles from the road. Their backyards
are tucked away out of sight, they show a brave face; there's
none of the nasty self-betrayals of the railway approach. And
everything will be fresh still. There will still be a lot of
apple-blossom--and bluebells. . . . And all the while we can
be getting on with your affair."
He was back at the window now. "I want the holiday myself,"
he said.
He addressed Sir Richmond over his shoulder. "Have you noted
|
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 Miracle Mongers and Their Methods by Harry Houdini: of life, had become acquainted with a
variety of arts. He pretended to have
immediate communication with the gods;
was the oracle and leader of his fellow-
slaves; and, as is usual on such occasions
confirmed his divine mission by miracles.
When heated by enthusiasm and desirous
of inspiring his followers with courage, he
breathed flames or sparks among them
from his mouth while he was addressing
them. We are told by historians that for
Miracle Mongers and Their Methods |
