The next morning everyone was up and feeling quite refreshed, considering the spiritual work which had been accomplished. The invisible kitchen staff were busy removing old dishes and replacing them with other tasty foods. Cupfuls of spiced apple cider were downed by all. At last Rav addressed the group, “First, let us give our beloved friend, Gabriel, a cheerful toast to his future well-being.” Everyone lifted his or her cup wishing Gabriel the best always.

Gabriel stood up and replied, “Thank you, one and all. In case, you have not guessed, I am a Scorpio with Aquarius rising and Pisces and Moon in the first house. I love secrets, which is good for a Practitioner of the Deep Magic. However, I share a secret or two, now and then. Right, Tristan?”

Tristan replied, “Now and then, eh? You are a real blabber mouth, Gabriel. Admit it.”

Ignoring Tristan’s comment, he continued. “Here is a little secret about what kind of luck you should desire. Most people want only good luck. Problem with good luck is that it is relative as to liking and benefit and is episodic. It is better to prefer bad luck, but not any kind of bad luck. Just the best bad luck. This way luck is always working on your side. I learned this from the closed-fisted and tricky Leprechauns. Easier to build a pot of gold, one coin at a time and good not to talk about it very much.”

Everyone looked at each other and one of them spurted out, “Bad luck, are you teasing us?”

“Not at all, just think about it and you will understand. Plus, the challenges which arise in each of our lives are pretty much random and if digested properly provide fit protein for the soul seed, assuming you possess one. Good times are nice, but, do little for gaining permanence. So suck it up, turn lead into gold like the alchemists–psychological metals though.”

Merlin interrupted, “It is a beautiful spring morning and I know a nice place to hike to–about an hour away. Flat top of a little hill overlooking the sea perfect for more lessons.” Everyone rose from the benches and headed to their rooms for outdoor clothing. Twenty minutes later, everyone gathered in the library and soon made off for a wonderful jaunt outside.

At last everyone was settled and sitting upon a comfortable rock perch forming a semicircle around Gabriel. Of course, Merlin had to perform some magick as to seating arrangements, but all looked very natural.

Gabriel began, “Yesterday, I outlined the evolutionary basis of selfishness and altruism. Though, they appear as polar opposites to our minds, it is best too see them as being opposed in action, not in essence. Moreover, in the socialization of children selfishness is one independent lesson plan and altruism another.

Our lessons in selfishness evolved socially so to make sure that we keep enough of what we gain for the benefit of our self, our spouse, and our immediate family. Our lessons in altruism coevolved so assure that the child would learn the benefits and pleasures of sharing our excess goods. And for most people and societies, this education of children works.

And typically, whenever a person seems to be overly selfish or miserly, society notes that such behavior is inappropriate, or undesirable, or evil. Whenever, a person is generous and shares such behavior is looked upon favorably by society and is called good.

What is not often appreciated by educators is the realization that the central nervous system within each member of said species shares the same basic cellular architecture. This means that each member shares a common set of responses towards certain categories of central nervous system input and will react very similarly. Which explains why children learn certain concepts and behaviors so quickly and easily.

Your earth psychiatrist, Carl Jung noted this phenomena and built a very sound psychological model around it. He called this genetically shared mentality, the collective unconsciousness as it lies outside of our conscious awareness, but sends us archetypal information when needed.

Interesting, towards the end of his career, Jung came to believe that the collective consciousness shared by men and women was much richer than his early genetic model. In fact, it is not unfair to tell you that by the end of his very rich life, he came to the opinion that mankind seemed to share a ‘psychic’ collective above and beyond the genetic one. In other words, Jung discovered that our minds are aphysical and physical in nature. The physical part of mind is the electromagnetic fields created by neuronal trafficking and the aphysical is the output of the imago operators. Moreover, one mind is in connection with other minds.

I think you have enough preliminary information so I can finally move onto the concepts of Good and Evil. But, I see behind you that the lunch table is set and it is time to eat. Last one there is a nincompoop.” And the last ones to sit were Tristan and Morgana as they had been acting rather lovey- dovey the whole afternoon. The students rather enjoyed seeing such tenderness and love in their Rav as it made him so much more human.  Whenever he paid attention to her, Morgana glowed.