Her mind then drifted back to something her grandmother had told her many years ago: “Remember that your love and trust of the spirits is the most powerful thing you have. Any lack of this faith will show up in your life in some way. Do not allow your mind or anyone to tell you anything else. Love and trust the spirits and they will show you their love of you,” said the grandmother.
Kaori could even smell the plants that were near her many years ago, though none of those plants were near her at this moment. She then smiled and realized that she was experiencing a vision. That smile then turned to a giggle as she let her thoughts consider some possibilities.
Kaori was nearsighted. She could see about ten feet in front of her and after that everything was blurred. This caused her to walk most times with her head down looking at the ground ahead. For this reason her younger brother Kiki sometimes helped her gather the plants and other herbs she used in her mixtures. Kiki participated in many of the spiritual traditions that Kaori practiced in the household and these practices affected him as well.
Her nearsightedness was both a fact and a metaphor for how she lived her life. The future was always trusted for the future was in the hands of the Gods. Kaori lived in the present. Past experiences were just that. They were past. Things and circumstances just seemed to go her way at all times. She would often say that she would let nothing disturb her way of being happy.