The Aloha Paradigm by Carol Austad

Author:Carol Austad
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Reincarnation and past lives, Historical and racial trauma, Climate crisis and and environment, Indigenous wisdom and ancestry, Hawaiian culture and history, End of humanity, Saving Mother Earth
Publisher: Carol Austad
Published: 2023-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

DISAGREEMENT

Pali dropped off Norah and Cassie at the beach house. The housekeeper greeted them at the door and pointed to a pu-pu platter of luscious-looking hors d’oeuvres atop the sparkling glass and wrought iron table on the porch, overlooking the crashing waves of Kailua beach. Norah dropped down onto a comfortable chair, and Cassie lay on a chaise longue as their Mai Tais were delivered.

Norah suspected Cassie was wired tight so she figured she would help her to loosen up. She smiled at her. “What’s your analysis?”

Cassie had been holding back her frustration. It reminded her of her explosions with Bill when he was alive. She felt her stress level skyrocket and then sensed that the dam was ready to burst. She was about to find herself out of control. “These people are crazy. Kapono is on a wild goose chase. He is playing with fire. The FBI and the CIA will be after him—and then us if we keep our wagon hitched to this star.” Cassie felt the blood rush to her face. She flapped her arms in a grotesque and contorted spasm. She made a motion with her hand as if she were pushing the experience away. Her face became redder and redder. She let out a torrent of piercing squeals that penetrated the air and cascaded into screaming, “Ooooph...what the fuck does this wild goose chase have to do with reincarnation? I can’t take this any longer. Are you crazy? This is no good...no good. I want out. You will ruin my reputation—and my life!”

Norah felt as if she had been hit with a round of bullets and braced her body to repel the onslaught. She did not want to deal with the intensity of Cassie’s stored-up fury. Trying to defuse Cassie’s wrath, she spoke softly, acknowledging that Cassie had a point. How was all this related? She realized what a saint Bill must have been to deal with these unexpected outbursts.

Cassie de-escalated. “This reincarnation stupidity that you’re so ready to believe is shoving us into a fucking political quagmire,” she squawked.

Norah calmly replied, “You know that the personal is political. Isn’t that a basic for feminist therapy—that counseling involves examining cultural, societal, and political processes to determine how to solve personal issues?”

Cassie resumed yelling, “Do not try to humor me. Fuck you. You are just a bitch. Do not tell me how...” then stopped abruptly. Embarrassed by her own behavior, she abruptly jumped up and ran out of the room, leaving Norah gaping after her.

Norah pondered whether Cassie might be right. Did her own hopes to survive after death color her thinking about reincarnation? Maybe, but she wanted to believe in reincarnation because she was a typical American death denier who could not face the idea that there was nothing beyond this life. Honest discussion about death was anathema. Try discussing the end of life at any gathering, and your listeners will shush you and tell you that you will live until you’re 120. And if you don’t change the subject, people drift away from you.

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