| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Myths and Myth-Makers by John Fiske: red deer; the Captain of the Phantom Ship; the classic
Tithonos; and the Man in the Moon.
The lunar spots have afforded a rich subject for the play of
human fancy. Plutarch wrote a treatise on them, but the
myth-makers had been before him. "Every one," says Mr.
Baring-Gould, "knows that the moon is inhabited by a man with
a bundle of sticks on his back, who has been exiled thither
for many centuries, and who is so far off that he is beyond
the reach of death. He has once visited this earth, if the
nursery rhyme is to be credited when it asserts that
'The Man in the Moon
Myths and Myth-Makers |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: R. L S.
Letter: TO SIDNEY COLVIN
[HOTEL BELVEDERE, DAVOS, Christmas 1880.]
MY DEAR COLVIN, - Thanks for yours; I waited, as said I would. I
now expect no answer from you, regarding you as a mere dumb cock-
shy, or a target, at which we fire our arrows diligently all day
long, with no anticipation it will bring them back to us. We are
both sadly mortified you are not coming, but health comes first;
alas, that man should be so crazy. What fun we could have, if we
were all well, what work we could do, what a happy place we could
make it for each other! If I were able to do what I want; but then
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Koran: should befall them a mishap for what their hands have sent before, and
they should say, 'Our Lord! why didst thou not send to us an
apostle? for we would have followed thy signs and been of the
believers.'
And when the truth comes to them from us they say, 'We are given the
like of what Moses was given.' Did they not disbelieve in what Moses
was given before?-they say, 'Two works of sorcery back up each other;'
and they say, 'Verily, we do disbelieve in all.'
Say, 'Bring, then, a book from God which shall be a better guide
than both, and I will follow it, if ye do tell the truth!'
And if they cannot answer thee, then know that they follow their own
The Koran |
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 Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: everybody's business to interfere when they see it; you did right, my boy."
Joe was quite calm by this time, and proud that John approved of him,
and cleaned out my feet and rubbed me down with a firmer hand than usual.
They were just going home to dinner when the footman came down to the stable
to say that Joe was wanted directly in master's private room;
there was a man brought up for ill-using horses, and Joe's evidence
was wanted. The boy flushed up to his forehead, and his eyes sparkled.
"They shall have it," said he.
"Put yourself a bit straight," said John. Joe gave a pull at his necktie
and a twitch at his jacket, and was off in a moment. Our master being
one of the county magistrates, cases were often brought to him to settle,
|
