| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum: allowed the whole mass of pretty globes to float into the air and
disappear in the far distant sky.
"That is really fine!" declared Santa Claus, who loved toys and
pretty things. "I think, Mr. Wizard, I shall have you blow a bubble
around me; then I can float away home and see the country spread out
beneath me as I travel. There isn't a spot on earth that I haven't
visited, but I usually go in the night-time, riding behind my swift
reindeer. Here is a good chance to observe the country by daylight,
while I am riding slowly and at my ease."
"Do you think you will be able to guide the bubble?" asked the Wizard.
"Oh yes; I know enough magic to do that," replied Santa Claus.
The Road to Oz |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: Well, I have left fiction wholly, and gone to my GRANDFATHER, and
on the whole found peace. By next month my GRANDFATHER will begin
to be quite grown up. I have already three chapters about as good
as done; by which, of course, as you know, I mean till further
notice or the next discovery. I like biography far better than
fiction myself: fiction is too free. In biography you have your
little handful of facts, little bits of a puzzle, and you sit and
think, and fit 'em together this way and that, and get up and throw
'em down, and say damn, and go out for a walk. And it's real
soothing; and when done, gives an idea of finish to the writer that
is very peaceful. Of course, it's not really so finished as quite
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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 The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: the room was Brisemont, stretched upon the ground and
rolling in horrible convulsions.
Planchet and Fourreau, as pale as death, were trying to give
him succor; but it was plain that all assistance was
useless--all the features of the dying man were distorted
with agony.
"Ah!" cried he, on perceiving D'Artagnan, "ah! this is
frightful! You pretend to pardon me, and you poison me!"
"I!" cried D'Artagnan. "I, wretch? What do you say?"
"I say that it was you who gave me the wine; I say that it
was you who desired me to drink it. I say you wished to
The Three Musketeers |
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 Richard III by William Shakespeare: My son George Stanley is frank'd up in hold;
If I revolt, off goes young George's head;
The fear of that holds off my present aid.
So, get thee gone; commend me to thy lord.
Withal say that the Queen hath heartily consented
He should espouse Elizabeth her daughter.
But tell me, where is princely Richmond now?
CHRISTOPHER. At Pembroke, or at Ha'rford west in Wales.
STANLEY. What men of name resort to him?
CHRISTOPHER. Sir Walter Herbert, a renowned soldier;
SIR Gilbert Talbot, Sir William Stanley,
Richard III |
