| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Father Sergius by Leo Tolstoy: She took a seat in the sledge, and did not utter a word all the
way home.
A year later she entered a convent as a novice, and lived a
strict life under the direction of the hermit Arseny, who wrote
letters to her at long intervals.
IV
Father Sergius lived as a recluse for another seven years.
At first he accepted much of what people brought him--tea, sugar,
white bread, milk, clothing, and fire-wood. But as time went on
he led a more and more austere life, refusing everything
superfluous, and finally he accepted nothing but rye-bread once a
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Persuasion by Jane Austen: its own matters of discourse; and hoped, ere long, to become
a not unworthy member of the one she was now transplanted into.
With the prospect of spending at least two months at Uppercross,
it was highly incumbent on her to clothe her imagination, her memory,
and all her ideas in as much of Uppercross as possible.
She had no dread of these two months. Mary was not so repulsive
and unsisterly as Elizabeth, nor so inaccessible to all influence of hers;
neither was there anything among the other component parts
of the cottage inimical to comfort. She was always on friendly terms
with her brother-in-law; and in the children, who loved her nearly as well,
and respected her a great deal more than their mother, she had
Persuasion |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Rig Veda: and show
themselves, and none are hidden.
9 They keep the twelve month's God-appointed order, and never
do the
men neglect the season.
Soon as the Rain-time in the year returneth, these who were
heated
kettles gain their freedom.
10 Cow-bellow and Goat-bleat have granted riches, and Green
and Spotty
have vouchsafed us treasure.
The Rig Veda |
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 Little Rivers by Henry van Dyke: of a boa-constrictor at midnight--when you find it under your hip-
bone. There should also be plenty of evergreens near at hand for
the beds. Spruce will answer at a pinch; it has an aromatic smell;
but it is too stiff and humpy. Hemlock is smoother and more
flexible; but the spring soon wears out of it. The balsam-fir,
with its elastic branches and thick flat needles, is the best of
all. A bed of these boughs a foot deep is softer than a mattress
and as fragrant as a thousand Christmas-trees. Two things more are
needed for the ideal camp-ground--an open situation, where the
breeze will drive away the flies and mosquitoes, and an abundance
of dry firewood within easy reach. Yes, and a third thing must not
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