| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Alcibiades II by Platonic Imitator: lest perchance without knowing it he implore great evils for himself,
deeming that he is asking for good, especially if the Gods are in the mood
to grant whatever he may request? There is the story of Oedipus, for
instance, who prayed that his children might divide their inheritance
between them by the sword: he did not, as he might have done, beg that his
present evils might be averted, but called down new ones. And was not his
prayer accomplished, and did not many and terrible evils thence arise, upon
which I need not dilate?
ALCIBIADES: Yes, Socrates, but you are speaking of a madman: surely you
do not think that any one in his senses would venture to make such a
prayer?
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: That's what I call a sin against the Church for a free-born child to attend
its own mother's wedding."
The three women sat and stared at the bride, who remained very still, with
a little vacant smile on her lips, only her eyes shifting uneasily from
side to side.
"Beer they've given it, too," whispered Frau Rupp, "and white wine and an
ice. It never did have a stomach; she ought to have left it at home."
Frau Brechenmacher turned round and looked towards the bride's mother. She
never took her eyes off her daughter, but wrinkled her brown forehead like
an old monkey, and nodded now and again very solemnly. Her hands shook as
she raised her beer mug, and when she had drunk she spat on the floor and
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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 The Call of the Canyon by Zane Grey: would always be there. But she had not yet seen the desert that had haunted
her for a year. When she reached the summit of the knoll and gazed out
across the open space it seemed that she must stand spellbound. How green
the cedared foreground-how gray and barren the downward slope--how
wonderful the painted steppes! The vision that had lived in her memory
shrank to nothingness. The reality was immense, more than beautiful,
appalling in its isolation, beyond comprehension with its lure and strength
to uplift.
But the superintendent drew her attention to the business at hand.
Carley had planned an L-shaped house of one story. Some of her ideas
appeared to be impractical, and these she abandoned. The framework was up
The Call of the Canyon |
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 United States Bill of Rights: and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him;
to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor,
and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved,
and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court
of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
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