| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Rewards and Fairies by Rudyard Kipling: Hand said to Cornplanter and me in the clearing - 'There will be
no war.' I could not see what he thought. I could not see behind
his face. But he is a great chief. He will believe."
'"Will he believe that Big Hand can keep his people back from
war?" I said, thinking of the crowds that hooted Big Hand
whenever he rode out.
'"He is as bad as Big Hand is good, but he is not as strong as
Big Hand," says Red Jacket. "When he talks with Big Hand he
will feel this in his heart. The French have sent away a great chief.
Presently he will go back and make them afraid."
'Now wasn't that comical? The French woman that knew him
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: Ministers of the Gospel, public officials, parents, children, masters,
servants, etc., are true saints when they take Christ for their wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and when they fulfill the
duties of their several vocations according to the standard of God's Word
and repress the lust and desires of the flesh by the Spirit. Not everybody
can resist temptations with equal facilities. Imperfections are bound to
show up. But this does not prevent them from being holy. Their
unintentional lapses are forgiven if they pull themselves together by faith
in Christ. God forbid that we should sit in hasty judgment on those who
are weak in faith and life, as long as they love the Word of God and make
use of the supper of the Lord.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche: marvellous feet, so that it can run on violet-blue paths,--
--Towards the golden marvel, the spontaneous bark, and its master: he,
however, is the vintager who waiteth with the diamond vintage-knife,--
--Thy great deliverer, O my soul, the nameless one--for whom future songs
only will find names! And verily, already hath thy breath the fragrance of
future songs,--
--Already glowest thou and dreamest, already drinkest thou thirstily at all
deep echoing wells of consolation, already reposeth thy melancholy in the
bliss of future songs!--
O my soul, now have I given thee all, and even my last possession, and all
my hands have become empty by thee:--THAT I BADE THEE SING, behold, that
Thus Spake Zarathustra |
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 Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: bone counters and showing their white teeth as they chattered.
In one corner, with his head buried in his arms, a sailor sprawled
over a table, and by the tawdrily painted bar that ran across one
complete side stood two haggard women, mocking an old man who was
brushing the sleeves of his coat with an expression of disgust.
"He thinks he's got red ants on him," laughed one of them,
as Dorian passed by. The man looked at her in terror and began
to whimper.
At the end of the room there was a little staircase,
leading to a darkened chamber. As Dorian hurried up its
three rickety steps, the heavy odour of opium met him.
The Picture of Dorian Gray |
