Today's Stichomancy for T. E. Lawrence

The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving:

whistle; he thought his whistle was answered; it was but a blast sweeping sharply through the dry branches. As he approached a little nearer, he thought he saw something white, hanging in the midst of the tree: he paused, and ceased whistling but, on looking more narrowly, perceived that it was a place where the tree had been scathed by lightning, and the white wood laid bare. Suddenly he heard a groan--his teeth chattered, and his knees smote against the saddle: it was but the rubbing of one huge bough upon another, as they were swayed about by the breeze. He passed the tree in safety, but new perils lay before him.

About two hundred yards from the tree, a small brook crossed

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton:

the house was still in its robust beauty. One end abutted on the round tower, the other on the small traceried chapel, and in an angle of the building stood a graceful well-head adorned with mossy urns. A few roses grew against the walls, and on an upper window-sill I remember noticing a pot of fuchsias.

My sense of the pressure of the invisible began to yield to my architectural interest. The building was so fine that I felt a desire to explore it for its own sake. I looked about the court, wondering in which corner the guardian lodged. Then I pushed open the barrier and went in. As I did so, a little dog barred my way. He was such a remarkably beautiful little dog that for a

The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Tanach:

Psalms 85: 7 (85:8) Show us Thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us Thy salvation.

Psalms 85: 8 (85:9) I will hear what God the LORD will speak; for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.

Psalms 85: 9 (85:10) Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Psalms 85: 10 (85:11) Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psalms 85: 11 (85:12) Truth springeth out of the earth; and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.

Psalms 85: 12 (85:13) Yea, the LORD will give that which is good; and our land shall yield her produce.

Psalms 85: 13 (85:14) Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall make His footsteps a way.

Psalms 86: 1 A Prayer of David. Incline Thine ear, O LORD, and answer me; for I am poor and needy.

Psalms 86: 2 Keep my soul, for I am godly; O Thou my God, save Thy servant that trusteth in Thee.

Psalms 86: 3 Be gracious unto me, O Lord; for unto Thee do I cry all the day.

Psalms 86: 4 Rejoice the soul of Thy servant; for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

The Tanach

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 Market-Place by Harold Frederic:

places at the point of the bayonet--and find out their names afterward--but it seems that's not what the Army wants nowadays. What is desired now is superior clerks, and secretaries and professors of languages--and much good they will do us when the time of trouble comes!"

"Then you think the purchase-system was better?" asked the American lady. "It always seemed to me that that must have worked so curiously."

"Prefer it?" said Lady Plowden. "A thousand times yes! My husband made one of the best speeches in the debate on it--one do I say?--first and last he must

The Market-Place