| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: weak or slippery or thick, so that when necessary, the hand which
holds them can also grasp a spear.
As soon as the rider gives the signal to the horse to start,[12] he
should begin at a walking pace, which will tend to allay his
excitement. If the horse is inclined to droop his head, the reins
should be held pretty high; or somewhat low, if he is disposed to
carry his head high. This will set off the horse's bearing to the best
advantage. Presently, as he falls into a natural trot,[13] he will
gradually relax his limbs without the slightest suffering, and so come
more agreeably to the gallop.[14] Since, too, the preference is given
to starting on the left foot, it will best conduce to that lead if,
On Horsemanship |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Sons of the Soil by Honore de Balzac: into further explosions of laughter, in the midst of which he
contrived to say: "I am not surprised you had to change your boots--
and your trousers; I have no doubt you have been wading! The joke
didn't go as far as that with me,--I stayed on the bank; but then, you
know, you are so much more intelligent than I--"
"But you forget," interrupted Madame de Montcornet, "that I do not
know what you are talking of."
At these words, said with some pique, the general grew serious, and
Blondet told the story of his fishing for the otter.
"But if they really have an otter," said the countess, "those poor
people are not to blame."
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Persuasion by Jane Austen: was wise.
One morning, about this time Charles Musgrove and Captain Wentworth
being gone a-shooting together, as the sisters in the Cottage
were sitting quietly at work, they were visited at the window
by the sisters from the Mansion-house.
It was a very fine November day, and the Miss Musgroves came
through the little grounds, and stopped for no other purpose than to say,
that they were going to take a long walk, and therefore concluded
Mary could not like to go with them; and when Mary immediately replied,
with some jealousy at not being supposed a good walker, "Oh, yes,
I should like to join you very much, I am very fond of a long walk;"
Persuasion |
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 Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce: -- to dislodge the worms.
AIM, n. The task we set our wishes to.
"Cheer up! Have you no aim in life?"
She tenderly inquired.
"An aim? Well, no, I haven't, wife;
The fact is -- I have fired."
G.J.
AIR, n. A nutritious substance supplied by a bountiful Providence for
the fattening of the poor.
ALDERMAN, n. An ingenious criminal who covers his secret thieving
with a pretence of open marauding.
The Devil's Dictionary |
