| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: Mr. Ratcliffe was a grave, steady, reserved man, in an advanced
period of life. To those with whom he had occasion to speak upon
business, he appeared uncommonly well versed in all its forms.
With others he held little communication; but in any casual
intercourse, or conversation, displayed the powers of an active
and well-informed mind. For some time before taking up his final
residence at the castle, he had been an occasional visitor there,
and was at such times treated by Mr. Vere (contrary to his
general practice towards those who were inferior to him in rank)
with marked attention, and even deference. Yet his arrival
always appeared to be an embarrassment to his host, and his
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: trickling into this lake or that pool, gird up their loins
once more, and continue their pilgrimage toward its
fountainhead.
No man with a genius for legislation has appeared in America.
They are rare in the history of the world. There are orators,
politicians, and eloquent men, by the thousand; but the
speaker has not yet opened his mouth to speak who is
capable of settling the much-vexed questions of the day.
We love eloquence for its own sake, and not for any truth
which t may utter, or any heroism it may inspire. Our
legislators have not yet learned the comparative value of
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Son of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Now Korak is king. What bull is greater than Korak?" It was a
challenge to any bull who might care to question Korak's right to
the kingship. The apes jabbered and chattered and growled among
themselves for a time. At last a young bull came slowly forward
rocking upon his short legs, bristling, growling, terrible.
The beast was enormous, and in the full prime of his strength.
He belonged to that almost extinct species for which white men
have long sought upon the information of the natives of the more
inaccessible jungles. Even the natives seldom see these great,
hairy, primordial men.
Korak advanced to meet the monster. He, too, was growling.
The Son of Tarzan |
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 Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: made without any difficulty. As is known, the podorojna,
drawn up in the name of Nicholas Korpanoff, authorized
this merchant to be accompanied on his journey to Siberia.
They appeared, therefore, to be a brother and sister travel-
ing under the protection of the imperial police. Both,
seated together at the stern, gazed at the receding town, so
disturbed by the governor's order. Michael had as yet said
nothing to the girl, he had not even questioned her. He
waited until she should speak to him, when that was neces-
sary. She had been anxious to leave that town, in which,
but for the providential intervention of this unexpected pro-
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