| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: THE face of the little boy, sole witness of Caleb's
infringement upon the laws at once of property and hospitality,
would have made a good picture. He sat motionless, as if he had
witnessed some of the spectral appearances which he had heard
told of in a winter's evening; and as he forgot his own duty, and
allowed his spit to stand still, he added to the misfortunes of
the evening by suffering the mutton to burn as black as a coal.
He was first recalled from his trance of astonishment by a hearty
cuff administered by Dame Lightbody, who, in whatever other
respects she might conform to her name, was a woman strong of
person, and expert in the use of her hands, as some say her
The Bride of Lammermoor |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie: preference for the society of Dr. Bauerstein. What she saw in
the man I cannot imagine, but she was always asking him up to the
house, and often went off for long expeditions with him. I must
confess that I was quite unable to see his attraction.
The 16th of July fell on a Monday. It was a day of turmoil. The
famous bazaar had taken place on Saturday, and an entertainment,
in connection with the same charity, at which Mrs. Inglethorp was
to recite a War poem, was to be held that night. We were all
busy during the morning arranging and decorating the Hall in the
village where it was to take place. We had a late luncheon and
spent the afternoon resting in the garden. I noticed that John's
The Mysterious Affair at Styles |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Ursula by Honore de Balzac: Ursula. The struggle began at once. As soon as they were seated at
table his mother told him of the horrible letters, as she called them,
which the Kergarouets and the Portendueres had written her.
"There is no such thing as family in these days, mother," replied
Savinien, "nothing but individuals! The nobles are no longer a compact
body. No one asks or cares whether I am a Portenduere, or brave, or a
statesmen; all they ask now-a-days is, 'What taxes does he pay?'"
"But the king?" asked the old lady.
"The king is caught between the two Chambers like a man between his
wife and his mistress. So I shall have to marry some rich girl without
regard to family,--the daughter of a peasant if she has a million and
|
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 Tanach: Numbers 31: 2 'Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites; afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.'
Numbers 31: 3 And Moses spoke unto the people, saying: 'Arm ye men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute the LORD'S vengeance on Midian.
Numbers 31: 4 Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.'
Numbers 31: 5 So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
Numbers 31: 6 And Moses sent them, a thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy vessels and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.
Numbers 31: 7 And they warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew every male.
Numbers 31: 8 And they slew the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian; Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
Numbers 31: 9 And the children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey.
Numbers 31: 10 And all their cities in the places wherein they dwelt, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.
The Tanach |
