| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: Study had before secluded me from the intercourse of my fellow-
creatures, and rendered me unsocial; but Clerval called forth the
better feelings of my heart; he again taught me to love the aspect
of nature, and the cheerful faces of children. Excellent friend!
how sincerely you did love me, and endeavour to elevate my mind
until it was on a level with your own. A selfish pursuit had
cramped and narrowed me, until your gentleness and affection
warmed and opened my senses; I became the same happy creature who,
a few years ago, loved and beloved by all, had no sorrow or care.
When happy, inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the
most delightful sensations. A serene sky and verdant fields filled
Frankenstein |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Twilight Land by Howard Pyle: the sight of it.
"Who are thou?" said the terrible being, in a voice that made the
very marrow of the poor Tailor's bones turn soft from terror.
"If you please, sir," said he, "I am only a little tailor."
The evil being lifted up both hands and eyes. "How wonderful," he
cried, "that one little tailor can undo in a moment that which
took the wise Solomon a whole day to accomplish, and in the doing
of which he wellnigh broke the sinews of his heart!" Then,
turning to the Tailor, who stood trembling like a rabbit, "Hark
thee!" said he. "For two thousand years I lay there in that
bottle, and no one came nigh to aid me. Thou hast liberated me,
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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 Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain: She returned to the man's lodge, and immediately set out for her
own country. Coming to the spot where the bodies of her adopted
brothers lay, she placed them together, their feet toward the east.
Then taking an ax which she had, she cast it up into the air,
crying out, 'Brothers, get up from under it, or it will fall on you.'
This she repeated three times, and the third time the brothers all arose
and stood on their feet.
Mudjikewis commenced rubbing his eyes and stretching himself.
'Why,' said he, 'I have overslept myself.' 'No, indeed,'
said one of the others, 'do you not know we were all killed,
and that it is our sister who has brought us to life?'
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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 The Man against the Sky by Edwin Arlington Robinson: Of honor among others of his day.
"You ponder like an owl," he said at last;
"You always did, and here you have a cause.
For I'm a confirmation of the past,
A vengeance, and a flowering of what was.
"Sorry? Of course you are, though you compress,
With even your most impenetrable fears,
A placid and a proper consciousness
Of anxious angels over my arrears.
"I see them there against me in a book
As large as hope, in ink that shines by night.
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