Synopsis
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Pacing
- Moderate
- Mood
- Lyrical, Melancholy, Hopeful, Mystical, Emotional
- Read it if
- You enjoy magical realism blended with a poignant story of grief, family secrets, and cultural identity, featuring a strong artistic thread and a focus on mental health.
- Skip it if
- You prefer strictly realistic narratives or find stories about suicide and intense grief too difficult to engage with.
The Astonishing Color of After Plot Summary
Covers the whole plot, including the ending.
The Bird and the Kiss
The story opens with Leigh Chen Sanders grappling with the suicide of her mother, Dory. Leigh is convinced that her mother's spirit has transformed into a large red bird that appears in their house. This belief is the central focus of her grief. The narrative also introduces a critical flashback: the day Dory died was the same day Leigh kissed her best friend and long-term crush, Axel, after years of unspoken tension. This juxtaposition of joy and loss creates a complex emotional situation for Leigh. Her father, a white American, struggles to cope with Dory's death and Leigh's erratic behavior, including her conviction about the bird.
A Journey to Taiwan and First Encounters
Driven by her certainty that the red bird is her mother and that it has flown to Taiwan, Leigh decides to travel there. Her father, hoping a change of scenery and connection with Dory's family might help Leigh, agrees to the trip. Upon arriving, Leigh meets her maternal grandparents, Waipo and Waigong, for the first time. The language barrier is significant, as Leigh only knows basic Mandarin, and her grandparents speak little English. Despite the initial awkwardness and the weight of their shared grief, Leigh immediately feels a connection to her mother's homeland and a strong desire to uncover the truth behind Dory's life and death, believing her grandparents hold pieces of the puzzle.
Whispers of the Past and Ghostly Visions
As Leigh navigates Taiwan, she begins to experience powerful, often overwhelming, sensory flashbacks and visions that she interprets as encounters with ghosts, particularly her mother's spirit. These 'ghosts' manifest as colors, sounds, smells, and even physical sensations, transporting her back to specific moments in her mother's life. These visions are triggered by places, objects, and conversations, helping Leigh piece together fragments of Dory's past. She sees glimpses of her mother's childhood, her relationship with her own parents, and the challenges she faced growing up in Taiwan, all while continuing to search for the red bird she believes is Dory.
Uncovering Family Secrets and Dory's Childhood
Through her visions and tentative conversations with her grandparents, Leigh gradually uncovers family secrets. She learns about Dory's difficult childhood, marked by a strained relationship with her father (Waigong), who disapproved of Dory's artistic aspirations and her desire to study abroad. A painful secret emerges: Dory had a younger brother, Fu, who died in a drowning accident when Dory was a child. This event impacted Dory and created a rift in the family, contributing to her eventual move to America and the emotional distance she maintained from her parents. Leigh realizes her mother carried deep wounds from her past.
The Artist's Legacy and Shared Passion
Leigh discovers that her mother was an artist, a passion Leigh herself shares. She finds her mother's old art supplies, sketchbooks, and paintings, which provide insights into Dory's inner world and emotional struggles. Art becomes a medium for Leigh to connect with her mother's memory and process her own grief. She starts drawing and painting again, using colors to express her feelings, much like Dory did. This shared artistic language helps bridge the gap between mother and daughter, even after death, and allows Leigh to understand her mother's perspective and emotional situation more deeply.
Axel's Letters and the Weight of Guilt
While in Taiwan, Leigh receives a series of letters from Axel. His letters express his confusion, concern, and guilt over their kiss occurring on the same day Dory died, wondering if it somehow contributed to her mother's decision. Leigh herself struggles with this same guilt, replaying the moment of the kiss and her mother's subsequent death. The distance allows her to reflect on her feelings for Axel, the intensity of their connection, and the pressure placed on their new romance by the tragedy. The letters highlight the emotional fallout affecting not only Leigh but also those closest to her.
Confronting Waigong and the Truth of Dory's Depression
As Leigh's visions become more frequent and she gathers more fragments of her mother's past, she realizes that Dory's life was marked by sadness and untreated depression, stemming partly from the trauma of her brother Fu's death and her strained relationship with her father. Leigh finally confronts Waigong, pressing him for answers about Dory's unhappiness. Through a difficult, emotional conversation, Waigong admits his regrets and the family's past inability to understand or address Dory's mental health struggles. He reveals that Dory had been struggling with depression for much of her life, a fact that was often dismissed or misunderstood within the family.
The Meaning of the Red Bird
After much searching and many visions, Leigh eventually comes to a realization about the red bird. While her initial belief was literal, she understands that the bird is not her mother's literal spirit but rather a symbol of Dory's essence, her artistic spirit, her longing for freedom, and the enduring love she left behind. The bird represents the often hidden aspects of her mother's personality and the way Dory continues to live on through Leigh's memories, her art, and the love shared with her family. This understanding marks a step in Leigh's grieving process, shifting from literal belief to symbolic interpretation.
Reconciliation and Acceptance
With a deeper understanding of her mother's life, struggles, and artistic spirit, Leigh begins to find a path toward acceptance. She strengthens her bond with Waipo and Waigong, bridging the language and cultural gaps through shared stories and a renewed sense of family. She learns to forgive her grandparents for their past mistakes and begins to forgive herself for the guilt she carried regarding Axel and her mother's death. Leigh realizes that grief is a complex journey and that loving someone means accepting all facets of their being, including their pain. She starts to understand that her mother's death was not her fault, and that Dory's love for her was real and enduring.
Returning Home and Embracing the Future
Having processed much of her grief and gained an understanding of her heritage, Leigh returns to America a changed person. She is more at peace with her mother's death and has a clearer sense of her own identity, embracing both her American and Taiwanese roots. She is ready to confront her relationship with Axel, understanding that their connection, while born amidst tragedy, is still meaningful. The journey to Taiwan has allowed her to integrate the painful and beautiful colors of her mother's life into her own, giving her the strength to move forward and paint her own future.
The Astonishing Color of After Characters
Leigh Chen Sanders
Protagonist
Half-Taiwanese, half-white teen artist grappling with her mother's suicide.
Leigh is a sixteen-year-old aspiring artist who is plunged into profound grief and confusion after her mother, Dory, dies by suicide. She firmly believes her mother's spirit has transformed into a red bird, a belief that drives her journey to Taiwan. Leigh is introverted, artistic, and deeply sensitive, often expressing her emotions through colors and drawings. Her quest to understand her mother's death leads her to uncover family secrets, confront her own guilt, and forge a new connection with her maternal grandparents. She struggles with her biracial identity and the emotional weight of her mother's untreated depression. Her journey is one of self-discovery and the integration of loss into her identity.
Relationships: Dory Chen Sanders (Mother, subject of her grief and quest); Peter Sanders (Father, supportive but struggling to connect); Axel (Best friend and romantic interest); Waipo (Grandmother) (Maternal grandmother, initially distant but grows close); Waigong (Grandfather) (Maternal grandfather, initially stern, later reveals his regrets)
Dory Chen Sanders
Central Figure (deceased)
Leigh's artistic mother whose suicide triggers the story's main quest.
Dory is Leigh's mother, whose suicide is the catalyst for the entire narrative. She is a talented artist who struggled with lifelong depression, a condition often misunderstood or unaddressed by her family. Through Leigh's visions and discoveries, Dory's past is revealed: her strained relationship with her father, the trauma of her younger brother Fu's death, and her artistic aspirations that clashed with family expectations. She is remembered as vibrant, loving, but also deeply troubled and prone to periods of intense sadness. Her legacy, both artistic and emotional, profoundly shapes Leigh's journey.
Relationships: Leigh Chen Sanders (Daughter, deeply loved); Peter Sanders (Husband); Waipo (Grandmother) (Mother, loving but sometimes distant); Waigong (Grandfather) (Father, strained and complex relationship); Fu (Younger brother, whose death deeply traumatized her)
Axel
Supporting
Leigh's best friend and secret crush, struggling with guilt over Dory's death.
Axel is Leigh's best friend and, unbeknownst to them until Dory's death, her romantic interest. He is kind, supportive, and deeply concerned for Leigh. The timing of their first kiss, on the same day Dory died, leaves him riddled with guilt and confusion, as evidenced in his letters to Leigh. He represents Leigh's tether to her 'normal' life and the complexities of young love intertwined with profound grief. His presence, even from afar, helps Leigh reflect on her feelings and the future.
Relationships: Leigh Chen Sanders (Best friend and romantic interest)
Waipo (Grandmother)
Supporting
Leigh's maternal grandmother, a gentle and traditional woman.
Waipo is Leigh's maternal grandmother, Dory's mother. She is a gentle, nurturing, and traditional Taiwanese woman who struggles with the language barrier but conveys love through her actions, cooking, and quiet support. She holds some of the family's secrets and eventually helps Leigh piece together Dory's past, particularly concerning her artistic talents and the trauma of Fu's death. Her relationship with Leigh evolves from initial awkwardness to a deep, unspoken bond forged through shared grief and cultural connection.
Relationships: Leigh Chen Sanders (Granddaughter, grows very close); Dory Chen Sanders (Daughter, deeply loved); Waigong (Grandfather) (Husband); Fu (Son, whose death caused immense pain)
Waigong (Grandfather)
Supporting
Leigh's maternal grandfather, initially stern, who harbored regrets about his daughter.
Waigong is Leigh's maternal grandfather, Dory's father. He is initially portrayed as stern, traditional, and somewhat distant, especially in his relationship with Dory, whose artistic aspirations he disapproved of. He represents the patriarchal expectations Dory chafed against. Through Leigh's insistent questioning and visions, Waigong eventually reveals his deep regrets about his strained relationship with Dory and his inability to understand her struggles. His admission of his own pain and sorrow allows for a crucial breakthrough in Leigh's understanding of her mother's life and a path toward healing for the family.
Relationships: Leigh Chen Sanders (Granddaughter, initially distant but grows to understand); Dory Chen Sanders (Daughter, complex and strained relationship); Waipo (Grandmother) (Wife); Fu (Son, whose death deeply affected him)
Peter Sanders
Supporting
Leigh's father, struggling with his wife's death and his daughter's grief.
Peter is Leigh's father, a white American, who is deeply affected by Dory's suicide. He struggles to cope with his own grief and Leigh's intense, sometimes erratic, behavior, particularly her belief in the red bird. He supports Leigh's decision to go to Taiwan, hoping it will help her heal and connect with her mother's heritage. He is a loving but somewhat overwhelmed parent, trying to navigate an unimaginable tragedy while also holding his family together. His presence provides a grounding force for Leigh.
Relationships: Leigh Chen Sanders (Daughter, supportive); Dory Chen Sanders (Wife, deeply loved)
Fu
Mentioned
Dory's younger brother, whose tragic death deeply impacted the family.
Fu is Dory's younger brother, who died in a drowning accident when he was a child. His death is a significant, traumatic event in the family's history, profoundly affecting Dory, Waipo, and Waigong. The unspoken grief and blame surrounding his death contributed to Dory's depression and the emotional distance within the family. Leigh learns about Fu through her visions and conversations, realizing the lasting impact his short life had on her mother.
Relationships: Dory Chen Sanders (Older sister, deeply affected by his death); Waipo (Grandmother) (Son, deeply mourned); Waigong (Grandfather) (Son, deeply mourned)
The Astonishing Color of After Themes
Grief and Loss
The central theme is Leigh's journey through the complex stages of grief after her mother's suicide. The novel explores how grief manifests uniquely, from Leigh's literal belief in her mother as a red bird to her emotional numbness and guilt. It explores the long-term impact of loss on family dynamics, particularly the intergenerational grief within Dory's family stemming from Fu's death. Leigh's process involves confronting the pain, understanding its origins, and finding a path to acceptance and healing, demonstrating that grief is not a linear process.
“Grief is a house of cards, and one wrong move brings it all crashing down.”
Identity and Self-Discovery
Leigh's journey to Taiwan is about discovering her mother's past and understanding herself. As a biracial teenager, she grapples with her Taiwanese heritage, the language barrier, and cultural differences. Uncovering her mother's artistic passions and mental health struggles helps Leigh reconcile aspects of her own identity and artistic inclinations. Her experiences in Taiwan, particularly connecting with her grandparents and Dory's history, allow her to integrate her dual heritage and understand the 'colors' that make up who she is, moving toward a more complete sense of self.
“Maybe you had to break into a million pieces to understand where you came from.”
Family Secrets and Intergenerational Trauma
The novel unravels the layers of family secrets that contributed to Dory's depression and the overall family dynamic. The most significant secret is the death of Dory's younger brother, Fu, and the unspoken grief and potential blame that followed. Waigong's strained relationship with Dory due to his disapproval of her artistic dreams and perceived 'weakness' also represents a generational conflict. These unaddressed traumas and secrets are shown to have a lasting impact across generations, influencing Dory's mental health and Leigh's understanding of her mother and her heritage.
“Secrets were like colors, too. Some were dark and murky, others bright and sharp. And some were so intertwined, you couldn't tell where one began and another ended.”
Art as a Means of Expression and Healing
Art is a pervasive theme throughout the novel. Both Dory and Leigh are artists, using colors and drawing to express emotions that are difficult to articulate. For Dory, art was an escape and a way to process her internal struggles, often clashing with her father's practical expectations. For Leigh, art becomes a tool for grief processing, connection to her mother's memory, and self-expression. The novel uses the metaphor of 'color' to represent emotions, memories, and the complex nature of life and loss, showing how creativity can be a pathway to understanding and healing.
“Maybe colors were like emotions, then. Maybe they could be mixed and layered, and become something new, something that wasn't just sadness or happiness or anger, but all of them at once.”
Mental Health and Stigma
The novel addresses the theme of mental health, specifically Dory's lifelong struggle with depression and the tragic consequences of suicide. It highlights the stigma surrounding mental illness, particularly in traditional contexts, where Dory's sadness was often misunderstood or dismissed as a personal failing rather than a treatable condition. Leigh's journey allows her to understand that her mother's depression was a complex illness, not a choice or a reflection of her love. The book advocates for empathy and understanding towards those struggling with mental health issues and the importance of open communication.
“Sometimes the people who are gone are the ones who need to be found the most.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Magical Realism / Sensory Visions
Leigh experiences vivid, color-coded 'ghostly' visions that blur reality and memory.
Leigh's experiences with 'ghosts' and her mother's past are depicted through vivid, sensory, and often color-coded visions that blur the line between reality and Leigh's internal world. These are not literal ghosts but powerful manifestations of memory, emotion, and empathy, allowing Leigh to 'see' and 'feel' her mother's life. This magical realism device allows the narrative to explore complex emotions and historical trauma in a uniquely evocative way, making the past tangible and immediate for both Leigh and the reader, and serving as a mechanism for Leigh's psychological processing of grief.
Non-Linear Narrative / Dual Timeline
Alternating between Leigh's present journey in Taiwan and flashbacks to Dory's past and Leigh's memories.
The story employs a non-linear narrative structure, constantly shifting between Leigh's present experiences in Taiwan and her 'ghostly' visions of Dory's past, as well as flashbacks to her own memories with Axel and Dory before her death. This fragmented timeline mirrors Leigh's fractured state of mind and the process of piecing together a life after a traumatic loss. It allows the reader to gradually uncover Dory's story alongside Leigh, building suspense and depth, and highlighting how past events continually influence the present.
Symbolism of the Red Bird
The red bird represents Dory's spirit, freedom, and the enduring nature of love.
The red bird is the most prominent symbol in the novel. Initially, Leigh literally believes it is her mother's transformed spirit, driving her quest to Taiwan. As the story progresses, the bird evolves into a multifaceted symbol. It represents Dory's artistic soul, her yearning for freedom from the constraints of her past and depression, and the enduring, vibrant presence of her love in Leigh's life. The bird's color (red) often signifies passion, anger, and the intensity of Dory's emotions, ultimately becoming a metaphor for how Leigh learns to carry her mother's legacy without the burden of literal belief.
Color Motif
Colors are used metaphorically to represent emotions, memories, and Leigh's artistic expression.
Colors are a recurring motif throughout the novel, deeply intertwined with Leigh's identity as an artist and her emotional landscape. Leigh often associates specific colors with particular emotions, memories, or even the 'ghosts' she encounters. For example, red is often linked to Dory, love, and intense emotion, while other colors signify sadness, confusion, or hope. This motif emphasizes the artistic lens through which Leigh perceives the world and processes her grief, making the abstract concept of emotion tangible and visually rich for the reader, and highlighting the therapeutic power of art.
Letters and Communication
Axel's letters to Leigh provide emotional connection and external perspective.
Axel's letters to Leigh, received while she is in Taiwan, serve as a crucial plot device. They maintain his presence in the narrative despite his physical absence, providing an external perspective on the tragedy and Leigh's behavior. The letters allow Axel to express his guilt, confusion, and enduring affection, which in turn forces Leigh to confront her own feelings about their kiss and the burden of that day. They highlight the difficulties of long-distance communication and the emotional complexities of young love amidst profound grief, pushing Leigh to reflect on her future.
The Astonishing Color of After Quotes
“Grief is a love that has no place to go.”
“Sometimes the truth isn't what you want it to be. Sometimes it's what you need it to be.”
“The world is full of colors we can't see until we're ready to look.”
“Memories are like ghosts. They haunt you until you learn to live with them.”
“Love isn't always about holding on. Sometimes it's about letting go.”
“In the silence between heartbeats, that's where the magic happens.”
“We are all mosaics of the people we've loved and lost.”
“The most astonishing colors are the ones we create from our pain.”
“Home isn't a place. It's a feeling you carry inside.”
“Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is ask for help.”
“The past is a story we tell ourselves. The future is a story we have yet to write.”
“Love is the color that never fades, even in the darkest of times.”
“We are all searching for the missing pieces of ourselves.”
“The heart has its own language, one that doesn't need words.”
Quiz
10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.
Question 1
What does Leigh believe her mother turned into after her death by suicide?
- A butterfly
- A bird
- A ghost
- A tree
Show answer
B. A bird Leigh is absolutely certain that her mother turned into a bird after her death, which drives her journey to Taiwan to find her.
Question 2
Where does Leigh travel to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time?
- China
- Japan
- Taiwan
- South Korea
Show answer
C. Taiwan Leigh travels to Taiwan, where her mother's family is from, to connect with her grandparents and search for her mother.
Question 3
What significant event happened on the same day Leigh kissed her best friend Axel?
- Her mother's birthday
- Her mother's suicide
- Her graduation
- Her move to Taiwan
Show answer
B. Her mother's suicide Leigh must reconcile that on the day she kissed Axel, her longtime secret crush, her mother took her own life, intertwining her grief with guilt.
Question 4
What is Leigh's ethnic background as described in the book?
- Half Asian and half white
- Fully Asian
- Half Latino and half white
- Fully white
Show answer
A. Half Asian and half white Leigh is half Asian (from her mother's Taiwanese side) and half white, which influences her identity and connection to her heritage.
Question 5
In her search in Taiwan, what does Leigh wind up doing besides looking for her mother?
- Starting a new school
- Chasing after ghosts and uncovering family secrets
- Learning to paint
Show answer
B. Chasing after ghosts and uncovering family secrets Leigh's journey involves chasing ghosts and uncovering long-hidden family secrets, which helps her understand her mother and her own past.
Question 6
What key relationship does Leigh develop during her time in Taiwan?
- A romantic relationship with a local boy
- A new friendship with Axel
- A relationship with her maternal grandparents
- A rivalry with her cousin
Show answer
C. A relationship with her maternal grandparents Leigh forges a new relationship with her grandparents, which is central to her healing and understanding of her family history.
Question 7
Which of the following themes is NOT explicitly mentioned in the book's description?
- Grief and despair
- Family history and secrets
- Political conflict
- Hope and love
Show answer
C. Political conflict The description highlights themes like grief, family history, hope, and love, but does not mention political conflict as a central theme.
Question 8
How does the book alternate its narrative structure?
- Between different characters' perspectives
- Between real and magic, and past and present
- Between first and third person
- Between letters and diary entries
Show answer
B. Between real and magic, and past and present The book blends real and magical elements, and shifts between past and present, to explore Leigh's grief and discovery.
Question 9
What role does art play in Leigh's journey according to the book's description?
- It is a hobby she abandons after her mother's death
- It helps her find herself through family history, grief, and love
- It is used to communicate with ghosts
- It is a source of conflict with her grandparents
Show answer
B. It helps her find herself through family history, grief, and love Art is integral to Leigh's process of finding herself, intertwined with themes of family history, grief, and love.
Question 10
Which element is central to the novel's exploration of Leigh's identity and healing?
- Her academic achievements
- Her romantic relationship with Axel
- Her belief in her mother's transformation and her journey to Taiwan
- Her mastery of the Taiwanese language
Show answer
C. Her belief in her mother's transformation and her journey to Taiwan Leigh's certainty about her mother turning into a bird and her subsequent trip to Taiwan drive the narrative, facilitating her exploration of identity, grief, and family secrets.
The Astonishing Color of After FAQ
What is 'The Astonishing Color of After' about?
The novel follows Leigh Chen Sanders, a biracial teenager who believes her mother transformed into a bird after dying by suicide. She travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time, where she searches for her mother while uncovering family secrets, processing grief, and reconciling her first kiss with her best friend Axel on the same day her mother died.
Why should I read 'The Astonishing Color of After'?
This book offers a unique blend of magical realism and raw emotional depth, exploring grief, cultural identity, and mental health through Leigh's journey. The alternating timelines between past and present, combined with vivid descriptions of art and Taiwanese culture, create a poignant story about healing and self-discovery.
What is the background/setting of 'The Astonishing Color of After'?
The story alternates between Leigh's home in the United States and Taiwan, where she visits her grandparents. The Taiwanese setting immerses readers in cultural elements like night markets, temples, and family traditions, while the magical realism elements blur the lines between reality and Leigh's grief-stricken perceptions.
What are the most memorable quotes from the book?
Key quotes include Leigh's realization, 'Grief is love with no place to go,' and her reflection on her mother: 'She was the astonishing color of after—a rainbow in the wake of a storm.' These lines encapsulate the novel's themes of love, loss, and finding beauty in pain.
What writing style does Emily X.R. Pan use?
Pan employs lyrical, sensory-rich prose with alternating timelines between past and present. The narrative blends magical realism with stark realism, using vivid color imagery and metaphors related to art and birds to convey Leigh's emotional state and cultural exploration.
What minor details add significant meaning to the story?
Leigh's use of colors in her art—like red for anger or blue for sadness—mirrors her emotional journey. The recurring imagery of birds, especially the red-crowned crane her mother supposedly became, symbolizes transformation and the connection between life and death.
What are some subtle foreshadowing moments?
Early mentions of Leigh's mother's erratic behavior and hidden paintings hint at her struggles with mental illness. The bird imagery appears before her death, subtly preparing readers for Leigh's belief in her transformation and the magical realism elements.
What unexpected character connections exist?
Leigh discovers that her grandfather had an estranged relationship with her mother due to cultural expectations and mental health stigma. This revelation connects to Leigh's own feelings of isolation and helps her understand her mother's pain and the family's silence.
What are unspoken character motivations?
Leigh's mother is motivated by unspoken depression and the pressure of balancing her Taiwanese heritage with her life in America. Leigh herself is driven by guilt over her kiss with Axel coinciding with her mother's death, fueling her quest to find closure.
What psychological complexities do characters exhibit?
Leigh grapples with survivor's guilt, biracial identity confusion, and magical thinking as a coping mechanism for grief. Her grandparents show complex layers of regret and cultural stoicism, repressing emotions about their daughter's mental health struggles.
What are the major emotional turning points?
Key moments include Leigh's first encounter with the bird she believes is her mother, her discovery of her mother's hidden paintings in Taiwan, and her confrontation with her grandparents about family secrets. Each revelation shifts her understanding of grief and identity.
How do relationship dynamics evolve?
Leigh's relationship with her grandparents transforms from distant and awkward to deeply empathetic as they share stories about her mother. Her bond with Axel evolves from secret crush to a source of support, though strained by guilt and distance.
Which parts remain ambiguous or open-ended?
The reality of the bird transformation is left ambiguous—it's unclear whether it's magical realism or Leigh's psychological projection. The ending also leaves some family secrets partially unresolved, emphasizing that healing is an ongoing process.
What are controversial scenes or decisions?
Some readers debate the portrayal of suicide and mental illness, particularly whether the magical realism elements romanticize grief. Leigh's decision to chase the bird instead of immediately processing her loss with her family is also a point of discussion.
'The Astonishing Color of After' ending explained: how it ends & what it means
Leigh accepts that her mother's bird form may be a metaphor, finding peace through art and reconnecting with her grandparents and Axel. The ending suggests that grief transforms but doesn't disappear, and that love and cultural roots can guide healing.
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