| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: of the dead sea bottoms carried the noiseless traffic of light
and airy ground fliers that are the only form of artificial
transportation used north of the gigantic ice-barrier.
The broad tires of these unique fliers are but rubber-like gas
bags filled with the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of propulsion--
that remarkable discovery of the Martians that has made possible
the great fleets of mighty airships that render the red man of the
outer world supreme. It is this ray which propels the inherent or
reflected light of the planet off into space, and when confined
gives to the Martian craft their airy buoyancy.
The Warlord of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Twelve Stories and a Dream by H. G. Wells: old black stone there. By this time I was beginning to sort of realise
the depth of their ignorance, and directly I set eyes on this deity
I took my cue. I started a baritone howl, 'wow-wow,' very long
on one note, and began waving my arms about a lot, and then very
slowly and ceremoniously turned their image over on its side and
sat down on it. I wanted to sit down badly, for diving-dresses ain't
much wear in the tropics. Or, to put it different like, they're
a sight too much. It took away their breath, I could see, my sitting
on their joss, but in less time than a minute they made up their
minds and were hard at work worshipping me. And I can tell you
I felt a bit relieved to see things turning out so well, in spite
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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 Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: everything floated in their mind unconnected with the past or
future, so that one desire easily gave way to another, as a second
stone, cast into the water, effaces and confounds the circles of
the first.
With these girls she played as with inoffensive animals, and found
them proud of her countenance and weary of her company.
But her purpose was to examine more deeply, and her affability
easily persuaded the hearts that were swelling with sorrow to
discharge their secrets in her ear, and those whom hope flattered
or prosperity delighted often courted her to partake their
pleasure.
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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 Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: in their existence, durst I, with my feelings of religion, apply
to this being in my distress."
"I should have thought, Miss Vere," replied Ratcliffe, "my
character and habits of thinking were so well known to you, that
you might have held me exculpated from crediting in such
absurdity."
"But in what other mode," said Isabella, "can a being, so
miserable himself in appearance, possess the power of assisting
me?"
"Miss Vere." said Ratcliffe, after a momentary pause, "I am
bound by a solemn oath of secrecy--You must, without farther
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