An aloe plant called Madame Blavatsky sits on the ledge of a window in the Wellness Center outside of Munich, Germany in my debut novel, THE HEALING CIRCLE. The plant is ordinary, easily overlooked, particularly in this far wing of a hospital dedicated to rest and relaxation. She observes all kinds of things from this potted place, especially bodies in transition: bodies coming and going in and out of hospital. Or, on the other side, through the window, bodies passing through trees on wings or on foot over the ground, and sometimes a landing helicopter.