| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: Versammlung, an assembly. But we are accustomed to the word church, by
which the simple do not understand an assembled multitude, but the
consecrated house or building, although the house ought not to be
called a church, except only for the reason that the multitude
assembles there. For we who assemble there make and choose for
ourselves a particular place, and give a name to the house according to
the assembly.
Thus the word Kirche (church) means really nothing else than a common
assembly and is not German by idiom, but Greek (as is also the word
ecclesia); for in their own language they call it kyria, as in Latin it
is called curia. Therefore in genuine German, in our mother-tongue, it
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Oscar Wilde Miscellaneous by Oscar Wilde: a great crucifix.
On the left [sand dunes].
The sky is blue like the inside of a cup of lapis lazuli. The hills
are of red sand. Here and there on the hills there are clumps of
thorns.
FIRST MAN. Who is she? She makes me afraid. She has a purple
cloak and her hair is like threads of gold. I think she must be the
daughter of the Emperor. I have heard the boatmen say that the
Emperor has a daughter who wears a cloak of purple.
SECOND MAN. She has birds' wings upon her sandals, and her tunic is
of the colour of green corn. It is like corn in spring when she
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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 Augsburg Confession by Philip Melanchthon: crimes. Such is the feebleness of man when he is without faith
and without the Holy Ghost, and governs himself only by human
strength.
Hence it may be readily seen that this doctrine is not to be
charged with prohibiting good works, but rather the more to be
commended, because it shows how we are enabled to do good
works. For without faith human nature can in no wise do the
works of the First or of the Second Commandment. Without faith
it does not call upon God, nor expect anything from God, nor
bear the cross, but seeks, and trusts in, man's help. And
thus, when there is no faith and trust in God all manner of
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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 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: He had been gazing into her face with such strained intentness that
he could no longer see it distinctly. Everything round him was
rather misty. He forgot the overturned stool, caught his foot
against it, and lurched forward slightly, saying in an ingratiating
tone:
"I'm not bad fun, really. You try a few kisses to begin with - "
He said no more, because his head received a terrific concussion,
accompanied by an explosive sound. Freya had swung her round,
strong arm with such force that the impact of her open palm on his
flat cheek turned him half round. Uttering a faint, hoarse yell,
the lieutenant clapped both his hands to the left side of his face,
'Twixt Land & Sea |
