| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Octopus by Frank Norris: "I'm a doctor," he said.
"Well, come along then," returned the conductor, in a surly
voice, "and the passengers in this car," he added, turning back
at the door and nodding his head menacingly, "will go back to bed
and STAY there. It's all over and there's nothing to see."
He went out, followed by the young doctor.
Then ensued an interminable period of silence. The entire train
seemed deserted. Helpless, bereft of its engine, a huge,
decapitated monster it lay, half-way around a curve, rained upon,
abandoned.
There was more fear in this last condition of affairs, more
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: conspexit, ad haec constitit, ne in quaerendis suis pugnandi tempus
dimitteret.
Instructo exercitu magis ut loci natura [delectusque collis] et
necessitas temporis quam ut rei militaris ratio atque ordo postulabat, cum
diversae legiones aliae alia in parte hostibus resisterent saepibusque
densissimis, ut ante demonstravimus, interiectis prospectus impediretur,
neque certa subsidia conlocari neque quid in quaque parte opus esset
provideri neque ab uno omnia imperia administrari poterant. Itaque in
tanta rerum iniquitate fortunae quoque eventus varii sequebantur.
Legionis VIIII. et X. milites, ut in sinistra parte aciei
constiterant, pilis emissis cursu ac lassitudine exanimatos vulneribusque
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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 Tao Teh King by Lao-tze: great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; and the (sage) king is also
great. In the universe there are four that are great, and the (sage)
king is one of them.
4. Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from
Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its
being what it is.
26. 1. Gravity is the root of lightness; stillness, the ruler of
movement.
2. Therefore a wise prince, marching the whole day, does not go far
from his baggage waggons. Although he may have brilliant prospects to
look at, he quietly remains (in his proper place), indifferent to
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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 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: in useless grief those talents that might be useful to my fellow
creatures. When I reflected on the work I had completed, no less
a one than the creation of a sensitive and rational animal, I could
not rank myself with the herd of common projectors. But this thought,
which supported me in the commencement of my career, now serves only
to plunge me lower in the dust. All my speculations and hopes are
as nothing, and like the archangel who aspired to omnipotence,
I am chained in an eternal hell. My imagination was vivid,
yet my powers of analysis and application were intense;
by the union of these qualities I conceived the idea and executed
the creation of a man. Even now I cannot recollect without passion
Frankenstein |
