| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, etc. by Oscar Wilde: the floor at the young man's feet. "Where on earth did you get
that?" I said. He grew rather confused, and said - "Oh, that is
nothing. I did not know it was in this portfolio. It is not a
thing of any value." "It is what you did for Mr. Cyril Graham,"
exclaimed his wife; "and if this gentleman wishes to buy it, let
him have it." "For Mr. Cyril Graham?" I repeated. "Did you paint
the picture of Mr. W. H.?" "I don't understand what you mean," he
answered, growing very red. Well, the whole thing was quite
dreadful. The wife let it all out. I gave her five pounds when I
was going away. I can't bear to think of it now; but of course I
was furious. I went off at once to Cyril's chambers, waited there
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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 the Cage by Henry James: could envy them without dislike. THEY never had to give change--
they only had to get it. They ranged through every suggestion,
every shade of fortune, which evidently included indeed lots of bad
luck as well as of good, declining even toward Mr. Mudge and his
bland firm thrift, and ascending, in wild signals and rocket-
flights, almost to within hail of her highest standard. So from
month to month she went on with them all, through a thousand ups
and downs and a thousand pangs and indifferences. What virtually
happened was that in the shuffling herd that passed before her by
far the greater part only passed--a proportion but just appreciable
stayed. Most of the elements swam straight away, lost themselves
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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 Persuasion by Jane Austen: any information of their short-lived engagement. That brother had been
long removed from the country and being a sensible man, and, moreover,
a single man at the time, she had a fond dependence on no human creature's
having heard of it from him.
The sister, Mrs Croft, had then been out of England, accompanying
her husband on a foreign station, and her own sister, Mary,
had been at school while it all occurred; and never admitted by
the pride of some, and the delicacy of others, to the smallest knowledge
of it afterwards.
With these supports, she hoped that the acquaintance between herself
and the Crofts, which, with Lady Russell, still resident in Kellynch,
Persuasion |
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 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: Ned Land, on seeing them, showed evident repugnance to dress
himself in one.
"But, my worthy Ned, the forests of the Island of Crespo are nothing
but submarine forests."
"Good!" said the disappointed harpooner, who saw his dreams
of fresh meat fade away. "And you, M. Aronnax, are you going
to dress yourself in those clothes?"
"There is no alternative, Master Ned."
"As you please, sir," replied the harpooner, shrugging his shoulders;
"but, as for me, unless I am forced, I will never get into one."
"No one will force you, Master Ned," said Captain Nemo.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea |
