| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: and unsatisfactory; besides, I had an insurmountable aversion
to the idea of engaging myself in my loathsome task in my father's
house while in habits of familiar intercourse with those I loved.
I knew that a thousand fearful accidents might occur, the slightest
of which would disclose a tale to thrill all connected with me with horror.
I was aware also that I should often lose all self-command, all capacity
of hiding the harrowing sensations that would possess me during the progress
of my unearthly occupation. I must absent myself from all I loved
while thus employed. Once commenced, it would quickly be achieved,
and I might be restored to my family in peace and happiness.
My promise fulfilled, the monster would depart forever.
Frankenstein |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Adventure by Jack London: real feelings, he was firm in his belief that she hid nothing. And
yet the germ he had implanted must be at work; he was confident of
that, though he was without confidence as to the result. There was
no forecasting this strange girl's processes. She might awaken, it
was true; and on the other hand, and with equal chance, he might be
the wrong man for her, and his declaration of love might only more
firmly set her in her views on single blessedness.
While he devoted more and more of his time to the plantation
itself, she took over the house and its multitudinous affairs; and
she took hold firmly, in sailor fashion, revolutionizing the system
and discipline. The labour situation on Berande was improving.
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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 Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart: "They took the cough medicine," she returned indignantly, "and they
said - "
"Confound the cough medicine!" I was frantic. "Did they take
anything else? Were they in my dressing-room?"
"Yes. I threatened to sue them, and I told them what you would do
when you came back. But they wouldn't listen. They took away that
black sealskin bag you brought home from Pittsburg with you!"
I knew then that my hours of freedom were numbered. To have found
Sullivan and then, in support of my case against him, to have
produced the bag, minus the bit of chain, had been my intention.
But the police had the bag, and, beyond knowing something of
The Man in Lower Ten |
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 The Augsburg Confession by Philip Melanchthon: Christian reconciliation; therefore Your Imperial Majesty himself
signified that he would endeavor to secure the said Chief
Pontiff's consent for convening, together with your Imperial
Majesty such General Council, to be published as soon as possible
by letters that were to be sent out.
If the outcome, therefore, should be such that the differences
between us and the other parties in the matter of religion should
not be amicably and in charity settled, then here, before Your
Imperial Majesty we make the offer in all obedience, in addition
to what we have already done, that we will all appear and defend
our cause in such a general, free Christian Council, for the
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