| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from King James Bible: bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
DEU 1:18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye
should do.
DEU 1:19 And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that
great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain
of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to
Kadeshbarnea.
DEU 1:20 And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the
Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us.
DEU 1:21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up
and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear
King James Bible |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte: him the "worthy vicar"?'
'I don't know; but if they do, I believe he merits the epithet.'
'Mercy, how shocking! and will she wear a white apron and make pies
and puddings?'
'I don't know about the white apron, but I dare say she will make
pies and puddings now and then; but that will be no great hardship,
as she has done it before.'
'And will she go about in a plain shawl, and a large straw bonnet,
carrying tracts and bone soup to her husband's poor parishioners?'
'I'm not clear about that; but I dare say she will do her best to
make them comfortable in body and mind, in accordance with our
Agnes Grey |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett: you to-day, William, an' I wanted to settle an account."
I felt somewhat disturbed and responsible, but when I joined
them they were on most simple and friendly terms. It became
evident that, with William, it was the first step that cost, and
that, having once joined in social interests, he was able to pursue
them with more or less pleasure. He was about sixty, and not
young-looking for his years, yet so undying is the spirit of youth,
and bashfulness has such a power of survival, that I felt all the
time as if one must try to make the occasion easy for some one who
was young and new to the affairs of social life. He asked politely
if I would like to go up to the great ledge while dinner was
|
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 Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: my youth I professed arms, and was raised by degrees to the highest
military rank. I have traversed wide countries at the head of my
troops, and seen many battles and sieges. At last, being disgusted
by the preferments of a younger officer, and feeling that my vigour
was beginning to decay, I resolved to close my life in peace,
having found the world full of snares, discord, and misery. I had
once escaped from the pursuit of the enemy by the shelter of this
cavern, and therefore chose it for my final residence. I employed
artificers to form it into chambers, and stored it with all that I
was likely to want.
"For some time after my retreat I rejoiced like a tempest-beaten
|
