| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: "Good God!" she continued, not attending to his address.
"How came you here? How came you up that staircase?"
"How came I up that staircase!" he replied,
greatly surprised. "Because it is my nearest way from the
stable-yard to my own chamber; and why should I not come up it?"
Catherine recollected herself, blushed deeply, and could
say no more. He seemed to be looking in her countenance
for that explanation which her lips did not afford.
She moved on towards the gallery. "And may I not, in my turn,"
said he, as be pushed back the folding doors, "ask how you
came here? This passage is at least as extraordinary
Northanger Abbey |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Burning Daylight by Jack London: dancers. The night's young yet, and it's Helen Breakfast and the
mail contract for me in the morning. Here, you-all Rawlins,
you--I
hereby do take over that same contract, and I start for salt
water
at nine A.M.--savvee? Come on, you-all! Where's that fiddler?"
CHAPTER III
It was Daylight's night. He was the centre and the head of the
revel, unquenchably joyous, a contagion of fun. He multiplied
himself, and in so doing multiplied the excitement. No prank he
suggested was too wild for his followers, and all followed save
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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 Wyoming by William MacLeod Raine: isn't a--a square deal that you should go away now, the very
minute you belong to me."
A happy smile shone in his eyes. "I belong to you, do I? That's
good hearing, girl o' mine." His arm went round her and he
stroked the black head softly. "I'll not be gone long, dear.
Don't y'u worry about me. I'll be back with y'u soon; just as
soon as I have finished this piece of work I have to do."
"But if you should get--if anything should happen to you?"
"Nothing is going to happen to me. There is a special providence
looks after lovers, y'u know."
"Be careful, Ned, of yourself. For my sake, dear."
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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 Dreams by Olive Schreiner: shines always, and the water is blue as burning amethyst, and the foam is
white on the shore. A great land rises from it, and he shall see upon the
mountain-tops burning gold."
The mother said, "He shall reach it?"
And he smiled curiously.
She said, "It is real?"
And he said, "What IS real?"
And she looked up between his half-closed eyelids, and said, "Touch."
And he leaned forward and laid his hand upon the sleeper, and whispered to
it, smiling; and this only she heard--"This shall be thy reward--that the
ideal shall be real to thee."
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