| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: "I know what I think of such a young woman."
She was still pensive. "Yes, yes, but then that is so simple."
I had a short laugh. "Oh, if you come to the simplicity!"
She nodded, seeming to be doing sums with her pencil.
"Men are always simple--when they're in love."
I assented. "And women--you'll agree?--are always simple when they're
not!"
She finished her sums. "Well, I think he's foolish!" she frankly stated.
"Didn't Aunt Josephine think so, too?"
"Aunt Josephine?"
"Miss Josephine St. Michael--my greet-aunt--the lady who embroidered. She
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Proposed Roads To Freedom by Bertrand Russell: is wicked and must be crushed. He is therefore
much more willing than the average citizen to resort
to war against his rivals. Accordingly we find,
though, of course, with very notable exceptions,
that in the main those who have most power are
most warlike, and those who have least power are
least disposed to hatred of foreign nations. This is
one of the evils inseparable from the concentration
of power. It will only be cured by the abolition of
capitalism if the new system is one which allows very
much less power to single individuals. It will not be
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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 Symposium by Plato: Phaedrus, I say of Love that he is the fairest and best in himself, and the
cause of what is fairest and best in all other things. And there comes
into my mind a line of poetry in which he is said to be the god who
'Gives peace on earth and calms the stormy deep,
Who stills the winds and bids the sufferer sleep.'
This is he who empties men of disaffection and fills them with affection,
who makes them to meet together at banquets such as these: in sacrifices,
feasts, dances, he is our lord--who sends courtesy and sends away
discourtesy, who gives kindness ever and never gives unkindness; the friend
of the good, the wonder of the wise, the amazement of the gods; desired by
those who have no part in him, and precious to those who have the better
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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 Heroes by Charles Kingsley: the master of this house.'
At that some growled, and some laughed, and shouted, 'Heyday!
we are all masters here.'
'Then I am master as much as the rest of you,' said Theseus,
and he strode past the table up the hall, and looked around
for AEgeus; but he was nowhere to be seen.
The Pallantids looked at him, and then at each other, and
each whispered to the man next him, 'This is a forward
fellow; he ought to be thrust out at the door.' But each
man's neighbour whispered in return, 'His shoulders are
broad; will you rise and put him out?' So they all sat still
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