| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Koran: transgressed upon the Sabbath; when their fish came to them on the
Sabbath day sailing straight up to them; but on the days when they
kept not the Sabbath, they came not to them, thus did we try them
for the abominations that they wrought.
And when a nation from amongst them said, 'Why do ye warn a people
whom God would destroy, or punish with severe torment?' they said, 'As
an excuse to your Lord, that haply they may fear.' But when they
forgot what they had been reminded of, we saved those who forbade
evil, but we overtook those who did wrong with punishment;- evil was
the abomination that they did, but when they rebelled against what
they were forbidden, we said to them, 'Become ye apes, despised and
The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte: regardless of their presence, as if I were wholly absorbed in my
own reflections, or the contemplation of surrounding objects; or,
if I lingered behind, it was some bird or insect, some tree or
flower, that attracted my attention, and having duly examined that,
I would pursue my walk alone, at a leisurely pace, until my pupils
had bidden adieu to their companions and turned off into the quiet
private road.
One such occasion I particularly well remember; it was a lovely
afternoon about the close of March; Mr. Green and his sisters had
sent their carriage back empty, in order to enjoy the bright
sunshine and balmy air in a sociable walk home along with their
Agnes Grey |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Confessio Amantis by John Gower: And wende wel and understode
How al that fyr was made for goode,
To schewe wher men scholde aryve,
And thiderward thei hasten blyve.
In Semblant, as men sein, is guile,
And that was proved thilke while;
The Schip, which wende his helpe acroche,
Drof al to pieces on the roche,
And so ther deden ten or twelve;
Ther mihte noman helpe himselve, 1050
For ther thei wenden deth ascape,
Confessio Amantis |
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 Lost Continent by Edgar Rice Burroughs: From room to room we passed until presently we emerged into
a mighty chamber, dark and gloomy, for its high and narrow
windows were choked and clogged by ivy. Along one paneled
wall we groped, our eyes slowly becoming accustomed to the
darkness. A rank and pungent odor pervaded the atmosphere.
We had made our way about half the distance across one end
of the great apartment when a low growl from the far end
brought us to a startled halt.
Straining my eyes through the gloom, I made out a raised
dais at the extreme opposite end of the hall. Upon the dais
stood two great chairs, highbacked and with great arms.
Lost Continent |
