| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Octopus by Frank Norris: one instant to touch the explanation of existence. Men were
nothings, mere animalculae, mere ephemerides that fluttered and
fell and were forgotten between dawn and dusk. Vanamee had said
there was no death. But for one second Presley could go one step
further. Men were naught, death was naught, life was naught;
FORCE only existed--FORCE that brought men into the world, FORCE
that crowded them out of it to make way for the succeeding
generation, FORCE that made the wheat grow, FORCE that garnered
it from the soil to give place to the succeeding crop.
It was the mystery of creation, the stupendous miracle of
recreation; the vast rhythm of the seasons, measured,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas: he had mixed the soil according to the most approved
prescriptions, and given to his hotbeds just as much heat
and fresh air as the strictest rules of horticulture exact.
Isaac knew the temperature of his frames to the twentieth
part of a degree. He knew the strength of the current of
air, and tempered it so as to adapt it to the wave of the
stems of his flowers. His productions also began to meet
with the favour of the public. They were beautiful, nay,
distinguished. Several fanciers had come to see Boxtel's
tulips. At last he had even started amongst all the
Linnaeuses and Tourneforts a tulip which bore his name, and
The Black Tulip |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Several Works by Edgar Allan Poe: Then the bird said "Nevermore."
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore--
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never--nevermore.'"
But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore--
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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 King James Bible: thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth
unto those things which are before,
PHI 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus.
PHI 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and
if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto
you.
PHI 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by
the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
PHI 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which
walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
King James Bible |
