| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin: "I saw a smith stand with open mouth swallowing a tailor's news."
(`King John,' act iv. scene ii.) And again, "They seemed almost,
with staring on one another, to tear the cases of their eyes;
there was speech in the dumbness, language in their very gesture;
they looked as they had heard of a world destroyed."
(`Winter's Tale,' act v. scene ii.)
My informants answer with remarkable uniformity to the same effect,
with respect to the various races of man; the above movements of
the features being often accompanied by certain gestures and sounds,
presently to be described. Twelve observers in different
parts of Australia agree on this head. Mr. Winwood Reade has
Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: world; but for our sakes he suffered death in the flesh, that he
might redeem us from the tyranny of death. He descended into
hell, and having harrowed it, he delivered thence souls that had
been imprisoned therein for ages long. He was buried, and on the
third day he rose again, vanquishing death and granting us the
victory over death: and he, the giver of immortality, having made
flesh immortal, was seen of his disciples, and bestowed upon them
peace, and, through them, peace on the whole human race.
"After forty days he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the
right hand of the Father. And he shall come again to judge the
quick and the dead, and to reward every man according to his
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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 Lesser Hippias by Plato: for he has no knowledge.
HIPPIAS: Clearly not.
SOCRATES: Then in astronomy also, the same man will be true and false?
HIPPIAS: It would seem so.
SOCRATES: And now, Hippias, consider the question at large about all the
sciences, and see whether the same principle does not always hold. I know
that in most arts you are the wisest of men, as I have heard you boasting
in the agora at the tables of the money-changers, when you were setting
forth the great and enviable stores of your wisdom; and you said that upon
one occasion, when you went to the Olympic games, all that you had on your
person was made by yourself. You began with your ring, which was of your
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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 The Rig Veda: thy
mind.
Haste, Warrior, Fort-destroyer, Lord of battle's din, haste,
holy
songs have sounded forth.
8 Sing out the psalm to him who breaks down castles for his
faithful
friend,
Verses to bring the Thunderer to destroy the forts and sit
on Kanva's
sacred grass.
The Rig Veda |
