The Gardener, The Crab, Kukkuripa and The Overlord of the Birds

Professor Withington Marsh has for many years been a trusted colleague and intellectual sparring partner of Professor Peregrine. To this day, Marsh is a strong advocate for the concept of the collective unconscious and believes that recognition of archetypes may hold the key to a truly fulfilled existence. (“He's so Jung, at heart,” the Professor likes to joke at dispiritingly frequent intervals). 

Central to Marsh's current research is the belief that taking an opportunity to relate ancient, familiar and resonant tales in a leisurely manner will provide a new understanding of their importance, lead to a more satisfying “inner life” and present clues to the probable winner of the Grand National and other noteworthy horse races. I admit to a degree of scepticism but, one wet afternoon last summer, the Professor and I agreed to join Marsh in an attempt to validate this theory.

1 - We commenced by recounting the well-known, simple tale of the gardener and the crab. I confess that we found great comfort in it.

2 - We then repeatedly told and retold the story of Kukkuripa with, frankly, increasingly ludicrous embellishments. This was pleasing, possibly even marginally enlightening and left us with a desire for a glass or two of Caipirinha.

3 - We moved on to begin the tale of the emergence of the Overlord of the Birds but, at that point, the rain ceased, the sun returned and Sussex resumed their innings at 108 for 3. (In retrospect, I do believe that the decision to leave unfinished the invocation of the Overlord of the Birds may have notable, if unintended, consequences).

The Professor later emailed Marsh with the results of our experience, highlighting his view of the influence of group dynamics on individuation and the significant impact of watching an exceptional cover drive passing a discouraged silly mid-off.