Wings & Roots

"The path is not made before you fly," the Tree whispered. "The path is made by your flying."

"Even the strongest eagle," said the Pot, "must set down the stone to fly."

Wings & Roots: Wisdom from a Forgotten Garden is an illustrated, meditative literary tale for all ages. It weaves 100 nature-inspired Chinese proverbs into a moving story of growth, resilience, and courage. Told through lyrical vignettes and original ink-wash illustrations, it is a sanctuary in pages-a timeless wisdom tale about letting go, finding belonging, and the quiet power of beginning again.

In a garden once tended by a herbalist, two parallel self-discovery journeys unfold:

• The Swallow: A fledgling who learns to fly yet hesitates to leave when winter nears. She clings to the nest, waiting for parents who never returned.

• The Human: A silent seeker who returns to his grandfather's abandoned garden, searching for a rare herb said to heal a broken heart.

The garden's inhabitants-a wise clay pot, a caring locust tree, and a sharp-tongued gecko-accompany them through the turning seasons. Together, they reveal what the earth has always known: frost sweetens fruit, mud holds lotus, bending is a form of bravery, and waiting is a seed. They remind us that healing from grief, loss, and heartbreak is not something we force; it is something we tend.

This book is for anyone navigating loss, change, burnout, anxiety, heartbreak, or life transitions. It offers a path toward inner peace. It is a companion for readers drawn to nature wisdom, gentle philosophy, and East Asian culture and heritage.

Inside you'll find:

• 100 NATURE-INSPIRED CHINESE PROVERBS carefully curated and rendered into English to preserve their imagery and emotional truth

• ORIGINAL INK-WASH ILLUSTRATIONS

• Rich back matter including: an introduction to the 24 Solar Terms; cultural and scientific context for selected proverbs; and a bilingual appendix presenting the Chinese originals alongside the author's English renderings

• A book for all readers: for anyone on the journey of letting go, growth, and beginning again

A perfect mindfulness gift book for the reader in your life who is growing, healing, or searching.

For readers of: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse • Big Panda and Tiny Dragon • The Cat who Taught Zen • The Alchemist • The Little Prince

A book to read slowly. Return to often. Give to someone you love.

Your journey into the forgotten garden begins here.