| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Jav gazed at them penetratingly for an instant, then,
with a wave of his hand, cried: "Look!"
The sight that met them was awe-inspiring. Where
before there had been naught but deserted pavements
and scarlet swards, yawning windows and tenantless
doors, now swarmed a countless multitude of happy,
laughing people.
"It is the past," said Jav in a low voice. "They do
not see us--they but live the old dead past of ancient
Lothar--the dead and crumbled Lothar of antiquity,
which stood upon the shore of Throxus, mightiest of
Thuvia, Maid of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen: so very still; and he fell on his knees, sung his evening hymn, and said: "I
cannot find what I seek; the sun is going down, and night is coming--the dark,
dark night. Yet perhaps I may be able once more to see the round red sun
before he entirely disappears. I will climb up yonder rock."
And he seized hold of the creeping-plants, and the roots of trees--climbed up
the moist stones where the water-snakes were writhing and the toads were
croaking--and he gained the summit before the sun had quite gone down. How
magnificent was the sight from this height! The sea--the great, the glorious
sea, that dashed its long waves against the coast--was stretched out before
him. And yonder, where sea and sky meet, stood the sun, like a large shining
altar, all melted together in the most glowing colors. And the wood and the
Fairy Tales |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Historical Lecturers and Essays by Charles Kingsley: And now King Harold showed himself a man. He turned at once from
the North of England to the South. He raised the folk of the
Southern, as he had raised those of the Central and Northern shires;
and in sixteen days--after a march which in those times was a
prodigious feat--he was entrenched upon the fatal down which men
called Heathfield then, and Senlac, but Battle to this day--with
William and his French Normans opposite him on Telham hill.
Then came the battle of Hastings. You all know what befell upon
that day; and how the old weapon was matched against the new--the
English axe against the Norman lance--and beaten only because the
English broke their ranks. If you wish to refresh your memories,
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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 Cromwell by William Shakespeare: MISTRESS BANISTER.
Thanks to my God, next to my Sovereign King,
And last to you that these good hopes doth bring.
GOVERNOUR.
The hundred pound I must receive as due
For finding Bagot, I freely give to you.
BOWSER.
And, Master Banister, if so you please,
I'll bear you company, when you cross the Seas.
BANISTER.
If it please you, sir; my company is but mean.
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