| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Case of the Golden Bullet by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: persons high in favor with the Arch-duke. But you had better tell
me what you think about this affair," continued the doctor,
pointing back towards the room they had just left.
"There's a woman in the case."
"Aha! you are romancing again. Well, they won't be so sensitive
about this matter, but take care that you don't make a mistake again,
my dear Muller. It would be likely to cost you your position, don't
forget that."
The doctor left the house. Muller smiled bitterly as he closed the
door behind him, and murmured to himself: "Indeed, I do not forget
it, and that is why I shall take this matter into my own hands. But
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from King James Bible: go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man
dedicate it.
DEU 20:6 And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not
yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die
in the battle, and another man eat of it.
DEU 20:7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not
taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the
battle, and another man take her.
DEU 20:8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they
shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him
go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as
King James Bible |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Second Home by Honore de Balzac: Half-way down the Rue Taitbout, in a house whose stone walls were
still white, where the columns of the hall and the doorway were as yet
spotless, and the inner walls shone with the neat painting which our
recent intimacy with English ways had brought into fashion, there was,
on the second floor, a small set of rooms fitted by the architect as
though he had known what their use would be. A simple airy ante-room,
with a stucco dado, formed an entrance into a drawing-room and dining-
room. Out of the drawing-room opened a pretty bedroom, with a bathroom
beyond. Every chimney-shelf had over it a fine mirror elegantly
framed. The doors were crowded with arabesques in good taste, and the
cornices were in the best style. Any amateur would have discerned
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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 Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Sir John Mandeville: after that some men say: (for men were wont for to clepe that
place the field of Damascus, because that it was in the lordship of
Damascus), and from thence was he translated into Paradise of
delights, as they say; and after that he was driven out of Paradise
he was there left. And the same day that he was put in Paradise,
the same day he was put out, for anon he sinned. There beginneth
the Vale of Hebron, that dureth nigh to Jerusalem. There the angel
commanded Adam that he should dwell with his wife Eve, of the which
he gat Seth; of which tribe, that is to say kindred, Jesu Christ
was born.
In that valley is a field, where men draw out of the earth a thing
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