| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: attended it; his eyes were immediately returned to their
former direction. Catherine was restlessly miserable;
she could almost have run round to the box in which he sat
and forced him to hear her explanation. Feelings rather
natural than heroic possessed her; instead of considering
her own dignity injured by this ready condemnation--instead
of proudly resolving, in conscious innocence, to show her
resentment towards him who could harbour a doubt of it,
to leave to him all the trouble of seeking an explanation,
and to enlighten him on the past only by avoiding his sight,
or flirting with somebody else--she took to herself all
Northanger Abbey |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: astounded at his defeat Raoul sheathed his sword, seized him
by the collar and the waist-band, and hurled his adversary
to the other end of the barrier, trembling, and mad with
rage.
"We shall meet again," murmured De Wardes, rising from the
ground and picking up his sword.
"I have done nothing for the last hour," said Raoul, "but
say the same thing." Then, turning towards the duke, he
said, "I entreat you to be silent about this affair; I am
ashamed to have gone so far, but my anger carried me away,
and I ask your forgiveness for it; -- forget it, too."
Ten Years Later |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: "You, who so well know my feeling towards Mr. Darcy, will
readily comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he is wise
enough to assume even the APPEARANCE of what is right.
His pride, in that direction, may be of service, if not to himself,
to many others, for it must only deter him from such foul
misconduct as I have suffered by. I only fear that the sort of
cautiousness to which you, I imagine, have been alluding, is
merely adopted on his visits to his aunt, of whose good opinion
and judgement he stands much in awe. His fear of her has
always operated, I know, when they were together; and a good
deal is to be imputed to his wish of forwarding the match with
Pride and Prejudice |
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 Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: "Blessed creature!" cried Amyas, "if you speak so I shall go mad.
Mother, mother, I have been dreading this meeting for months. It
has been a nightmare hanging over me like a horrible black thunder-
cloud; a great cliff miles high, with its top hid in the clouds,
which I had to climb, and dare not. I have longed to leap
overboard, and flee from it like a coward into the depths of the
sea.--The thought that you might ask me whether I was not my
brother's keeper--that you might require his blood at my hands--and
now, now! when it comes! to find you all love, and trust, and
patience--mother, mother, it's more than I can bear!" and he wept
violently.
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