| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift: roof is made after the same manner, and so are the doors.
The HOUYHNHNMS use the hollow part, between the pastern and the
hoof of their fore-foot, as we do our hands, and this with
greater dexterity than I could at first imagine. I have seen a
white mare of our family thread a needle (which I lent her on
purpose) with that joint. They milk their cows, reap their oats,
and do all the work which requires hands, in the same manner.
They have a kind of hard flints, which, by grinding against other
stones, they form into instruments, that serve instead of wedges,
axes, and hammers. With tools made of these flints, they likewise
cut their hay, and reap their oats, which there grow naturally in
Gulliver's Travels |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling: "They are not unlike the Pack, these brothers of thine," said
Akela, sitting down composedly. "It is in my head that, if
bullets mean anything, they would cast thee out."
"Wolf! Wolf's cub! Go away!" shouted the priest, waving a
sprig of the sacred tulsi plant.
"Again? Last time it was because I was a man. This time it
is because I am a wolf. Let us go, Akela."
A woman--it was Messua--ran across to the herd, and cried:
"Oh, my son, my son! They say thou art a sorcerer who can turn
himself into a beast at will. I do not believe, but go away or
they will kill thee. Buldeo says thou art a wizard, but I know
The Jungle Book |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: fell upon Sir Rowland's face. It showed livid; the nether-lip sucked in
and caught in the strong teeth, as if to prevent an outcry; the eyes
wild with fright. What did it mean? By an effort she wrenched herself
round at last, and a scream broke from her to rouse her aunt, her cousin,
and her brother, and bring them hastening towards her across the sweep
of lawn.
Before her, on the edge of the shrubbery, a grey figure stood erect
and graceful, and the face, with its thin lips faintly smiling, its dark
eyes g1eaming, was the face of Anthony Wilding. And as she stared he
moved forward, and she heard the fall of his foot upon the turf, the
clink of his spurs, the swish of his scabbard against the shrubs, and
|
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 The Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln by Helen Nicolay: him in a store.
The hole plugged up again, and the boat's cargo reloaded, they
made the remainder of the journey in safety. Lincoln returned by
steamer from New Orleans to St. Louis, and from there made his
way to New Salem on foot. He expected to find Offut already
established in the new store, but neither he nor his goods had
arrived. While "loafing about," as the citizens of New Salem
expressed it, waiting for him, the newcomer had a chance to
exhibit another of his accomplishments. An election was to be
held, but one of the clerks, being taken suddenly ill, could not
be present. Penmen were not plenty in the little town, and Mentor
|
