| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Daisy Miller by Henry James: "I certainly shall not help you to find him," Winterbourne declared.
"Then I shall find him without you," cried Miss Daisy.
"You certainly won't leave me!" cried Winterbourne.
She burst into her little laugh. "Are you afraid you'll get lost--
or run over? But there's Giovanelli, leaning against that tree.
He's staring at the women in the carriages: did you ever see
anything so cool?"
Winterbourne perceived at some distance a little man standing with
folded arms nursing his cane. He had a handsome face, an artfully
poised hat, a glass in one eye, and a nosegay in his buttonhole.
Winterbourne looked at him a moment and then said, "Do you mean
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: despise and transgress His commandments; and again, how richly He will
reward, bless, and do all good to those who hold them in high esteem,
and gladly do and live according to them. Thus He demands that all our
works proceed from a heart which fears and regards God alone, and from
such fear avoids everything that is contrary to His will, lest it
should move Him to wrath; and, on the other hand, also trusts in Him
alone, and from love to Him does all He wishes, because he speaks to us
as friendly as a father, and offers us all grace and every good.
Just this is also the meaning and true interpretation of the first and
chief commandment, from which all the others must flow and proceed, so
that this word: Thou shalt have no other gods before Me, in its
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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: is because they do not know these, that men do not know me.
3. They who know me are few, and I am on that account (the more) to be
prized. It is thus that the sage wears (a poor garb of) hair cloth,
while he carries his (signet of) jade in his bosom.
71. 1. To know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest
(attainment); not to know (and yet think) we do know is a disease.
2. It is simply by being pained at (the thought of) having this
disease that we are preserved from it. The sage has not the disease.
He knows the pain that would be inseparable from it, and therefore he
does not have it.
72. 1. When the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which
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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 The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey: other men there, a dozen or more, and all seemed excited;
evidently, news of Duane had preceded him. Longstreth sat at a
table up on a platform. Near him sat a thick-set grizzled man,
with deep eyes, and this was Hanford Owens, county judge. To
the right stood a tall, angular, yellow-faced fellow with a
drooping sandy mustache. Conspicuous on his vest was a huge
silver shield. This was Gorsech, one of Longstreth's sheriffs.
There were four other men whom Duane knew by sight, several
whose faces were familiar, and half a dozen strangers, all
dusty horsemen.
Longstreth pounded hard on the table to be heard. Mayor or not,
The Lone Star Ranger |
