| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tanach: Exodus 8: 3 (7:28) And the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come into thy house, and into thy bed-chamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading-troughs.
Exodus 8: 4 (7:29) And the frogs shall come up both upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.'
Exodus 8: 5 (8:1) And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Say unto Aaron: Stretch forth thy hand with thy rod over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.'
Exodus 8: 6 (8:2) And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.
Exodus 8: 7 (8:3) And the magicians did in like manner with their secret arts, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.
Exodus 8: 8 (8:4) Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said: 'Entreat the LORD, that He take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto the LORD.'
Exodus 8: 9 (8:5) And Moses said unto Pharaoh: 'Have thou this glory over me; against what time shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, that the frogs be destroyed from thee and thy houses, and remain in the river only?'
The Tanach |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Silverado Squatters by Robert Louis Stevenson: awkwardly chirruping among the green madronas, and the sound
was cheerful, natural, and stirring. It did not hold the
attention, nor interrupt the thread of meditation, like a
blackbird or a nightingale; it was mere woodland prattle, of
which the mind was conscious like a perfume. The freshness
of these morning seasons remained with me far on into the
day.
As soon as the kettle boiled, I made porridge and coffee; and
that, beyond the literal drawing of water, and the
preparation of kindling, which it would be hyperbolical to
call the hewing of wood, ended my domestic duties for the
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass:
We sailed out of Miles River for Baltimore on a
Saturday morning. I remember only the day of the
week, for at that time I had no knowledge of the
days of the month, nor the months of the year. On
setting sail, I walked aft, and gave to Colonel Lloyd's
plantation what I hoped would be the last look. I
then placed myself in the bows of the sloop, and
there spent the remainder of the day in looking
ahead, interesting myself in what was in the distance
rather than in things near by or behind.
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave |
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 Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: VERSE 4. That he might deliver us from this present evil world.
Paul calls this present world evil because everything in it is subject to the
malice of the devil, who reigns over the whole world as his domain and fills
the air with ignorance, contempt, hatred, and disobedience of God. In this
devils's kingdom we live.
As long as a person is in the world he cannot by his own efforts rid himself
of sin, because the world is bent upon evil. The people of the world are the
slaves of the devil. If we are not in the Kingdom of Christ, it is certain we
belong to the kingdom of Satan and we are pressed into his service with every
talent we possess.
Take the talents of wisdom and integrity. Without Christ, wisdom is double
|
