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The Land in Our Bones
A profound and searching exploration of the herbs, foodways, and land-based medicines of Lebanon and Canaan—a deep invitation to remember and reconnect to our roots amid displacement and in diaspora.
Herbalist and author Layla K. Feghali shares a nuanced and layered cultural history of the healing plants of Southwest Asia and North Africa (the "Middle East") and Canaan (the Levant), exploring how they connect family and kin in diaspora—and call across generations of ancestral knowledge.
Tying cultural survival to land-based knowledge and the plants, herbs, geography, medicines, and foodways that shape and sustain us, Feghali re-maps Canaan and its crossroads, explores the complexities and yearnings of diaspora, and explains the wounds of colonization.
Feghali asks how we find our way home amid How do we embody the lands and the histories that bind us together, while holding the ways we’ve been wrested apart? What does it mean to be of a place , when extraction and empire destroy its geographies? How do we reconnect to interrupted ways of knowing—the seeing, being, connecting, and healing we feel in our bones? What do we rediscover when we look beyond what’s been lost and tend to what remains?
She shares lineages of folk healing in those passed down by mothers and grandmothers; plants and practices used in prenatal and postpartum care; mystical traditions for spiritual healing; earth-based practices for emotional wellness; cultural foods and medicinal plants; and more.
Including recipes, family stories, and a glossary of meaningful terms, The Land in Our Bones asks us to reflect on belonging and lineage—to reclaim our cultural stories, to participate in them with reciprocity and care—and deepens our connection to the lands, people, and places we call home.
Herbalist and author Layla K. Feghali shares a nuanced and layered cultural history of the healing plants of Southwest Asia and North Africa (the "Middle East") and Canaan (the Levant), exploring how they connect family and kin in diaspora—and call across generations of ancestral knowledge.
Tying cultural survival to land-based knowledge and the plants, herbs, geography, medicines, and foodways that shape and sustain us, Feghali re-maps Canaan and its crossroads, explores the complexities and yearnings of diaspora, and explains the wounds of colonization.
Feghali asks how we find our way home amid How do we embody the lands and the histories that bind us together, while holding the ways we’ve been wrested apart? What does it mean to be of a place , when extraction and empire destroy its geographies? How do we reconnect to interrupted ways of knowing—the seeing, being, connecting, and healing we feel in our bones? What do we rediscover when we look beyond what’s been lost and tend to what remains?
She shares lineages of folk healing in those passed down by mothers and grandmothers; plants and practices used in prenatal and postpartum care; mystical traditions for spiritual healing; earth-based practices for emotional wellness; cultural foods and medicinal plants; and more.
Including recipes, family stories, and a glossary of meaningful terms, The Land in Our Bones asks us to reflect on belonging and lineage—to reclaim our cultural stories, to participate in them with reciprocity and care—and deepens our connection to the lands, people, and places we call home.
368 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2024
98 people are currently reading
3,695 people want to read
About the author
Layla K. Feghali
1 book34 followersLayla K. Feghali is an ethnobotanist, cultural worker, and author who lives between her ancestral village in Lebanon and her diasporic home in California, where she was born and raised. Her dedication is the stewardship of eco-cultural re-membrance and decolonization movements, and the many layers of relational restoration, systemic reckoning, and healing that entails. Feghali offers a line of plantcestral medicine, education, and other culturally-rooted offerings and mutual aid efforts, with an emphasis on land-based ancestral practices from the Crossroads (southwest Asia + northern Africa) and its diasporas.
She has a background in mental health (MSW), community organizing, herbalism, folkoric dance, and traditional healing.
Her recent book, The Land in Our Bones, documents cultural herbal and healing knowledge from Syria to the Sinai, while interrogating colonialism and its lingering wounds on the culture of our displaced world. In her online shop, you can also find a copy of a hand drawn visual companion book for this text, full of medicinal profiles and gorgeous drawings of each plant featured. Just go to plantcestral.square.site to purchase one.
You can learn more about her and her offerings at www.RiverRoseRemembrance.com // or @RiverRoseRemembrance on Instagram + Facebook.
She has a background in mental health (MSW), community organizing, herbalism, folkoric dance, and traditional healing.
Her recent book, The Land in Our Bones, documents cultural herbal and healing knowledge from Syria to the Sinai, while interrogating colonialism and its lingering wounds on the culture of our displaced world. In her online shop, you can also find a copy of a hand drawn visual companion book for this text, full of medicinal profiles and gorgeous drawings of each plant featured. Just go to plantcestral.square.site to purchase one.
You can learn more about her and her offerings at www.RiverRoseRemembrance.com // or @RiverRoseRemembrance on Instagram + Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 12, 2023
"The Land in Our Bones" by Layla F. Feghali read like prayer and honor for our ancestral connections and the wisdom of plants and Mother Earth. In a political climate marked by conflict and destruction, Feghali's work serves as a prayerful guide, encouraging readers to honor the earth, our diasporic roots, and the enduring legacy of what she calls our "plantcestors."
As the daughter of Lebanese immigrants and a practitioner of herbalism, Feghali brings a unique perspective to the forefront. Her expertise in land-based therapy, coupled with a deep understanding of the impact of colonialism, displacement, capitalism, and white supremacy, weaves a narrative that resonates on both personal and collective levels.
Central to Feghali's narrative is the concept of "plantcestors," a term she employs to acknowledge the healing herbs that have supported generations in the face of historical adversities. Through this lens, she invites readers to engage with our cultural legacies by reconnecting with the land, a process she aptly terms "plancestral re-membrance."
The author's exploration of Cana'an's history, the ancestral civilization stretching from the Sinai region of Egypt to the areas west of the Jordan River and Syria, is a crucial aspect of the book. I learned so much about history in the Middle East and came away from reading with such a richer understanding. Feghali delves into the impact of colonialism and war on the cultural fabric of these lands, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the generational connection to the land that has been eroded by the impact of settler colonialism.
One of the strengths of "The Land in Our Bones" lies in Feghali's role as a student of the ongoing deconstruction of colonial mappings in the Middle East. She guides readers through a journey of comprehension, unraveling the complexities of history and the profound impact it has had on families who've experienced displacement.
The book not only serves as a historical guide but also as a manual for herbal wisdom. Feghali introduces readers to healing herbs like "Tayyoun" and "Za'atar," providing insights into their medicinal properties. As a student of elders in the herbalism tradition, she shares her knowledge generously, offering ways for readers to connect with our own "forgotten fragments."
Nevertheless, Feghali does not shy away from addressing the challenges faced by communities in maintaining their generational relationship with plants. The criminalization of such connections, particularly in light of recent events like the occupation of Israel in Palestine, adds a resonate layer to the narrative.
In a time where mental health crises are rising and we are seeking to heal intergenerational trauma by raising the collective consciousness, "The Land in Our Bones" stands out as a timely and essential read. Feghali's writing feels like an altar call, a call to action for those committed to learning more about the roots of sustenance, cultural resilience, and the enduring bond between humanity and the land.
As the daughter of Lebanese immigrants and a practitioner of herbalism, Feghali brings a unique perspective to the forefront. Her expertise in land-based therapy, coupled with a deep understanding of the impact of colonialism, displacement, capitalism, and white supremacy, weaves a narrative that resonates on both personal and collective levels.
Central to Feghali's narrative is the concept of "plantcestors," a term she employs to acknowledge the healing herbs that have supported generations in the face of historical adversities. Through this lens, she invites readers to engage with our cultural legacies by reconnecting with the land, a process she aptly terms "plancestral re-membrance."
The author's exploration of Cana'an's history, the ancestral civilization stretching from the Sinai region of Egypt to the areas west of the Jordan River and Syria, is a crucial aspect of the book. I learned so much about history in the Middle East and came away from reading with such a richer understanding. Feghali delves into the impact of colonialism and war on the cultural fabric of these lands, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the generational connection to the land that has been eroded by the impact of settler colonialism.
One of the strengths of "The Land in Our Bones" lies in Feghali's role as a student of the ongoing deconstruction of colonial mappings in the Middle East. She guides readers through a journey of comprehension, unraveling the complexities of history and the profound impact it has had on families who've experienced displacement.
The book not only serves as a historical guide but also as a manual for herbal wisdom. Feghali introduces readers to healing herbs like "Tayyoun" and "Za'atar," providing insights into their medicinal properties. As a student of elders in the herbalism tradition, she shares her knowledge generously, offering ways for readers to connect with our own "forgotten fragments."
Nevertheless, Feghali does not shy away from addressing the challenges faced by communities in maintaining their generational relationship with plants. The criminalization of such connections, particularly in light of recent events like the occupation of Israel in Palestine, adds a resonate layer to the narrative.
In a time where mental health crises are rising and we are seeking to heal intergenerational trauma by raising the collective consciousness, "The Land in Our Bones" stands out as a timely and essential read. Feghali's writing feels like an altar call, a call to action for those committed to learning more about the roots of sustenance, cultural resilience, and the enduring bond between humanity and the land.
July 5, 2024
I loved this book so much that I went to the local bookstore and bought the five copies they had there to distribute to family members. As a daughter of the people of Mashreq/Cana'an/Levant, this book was a balm to my soul at a time when it feels like our stories have been twisted and reduced to violence, displacement, and loss. This is a unique read both in terms of the educational information about plants, as well as the thoughtful analyses of places and histories. She even added an analysis of her positionality, and it was music to my years (eyes?). I wanted to hug her a million times as I read this book, and it started the moment I saw her dedication:
"To Cana'an and her descendants, forward and back.
To kindred displaced and diasporic people, looking for home in parallel.
To the Earth and her Indigenous and traditional stewards globally.
Towards re-membrance, freedom, and deeper care and belonging to life, land, and each other"
I hope it will speak to all, but I wanted to add a special note for other peoples of the Levant/Cana'an: This was a really hard read for me because the storytelling of our wisdom, science, and joy is contextualized within our realities of historical and ongoing colonialism and attempted erasure. It's a beautiful story even if it's painful. I knew it was going to be hard when I saw the last line in Layla's introduction "May this book reach the hands and ears of who needs it and will put it to use for our mutual liberation, healing, and re-membarance inshallah". I'm just so grateful that it reached my hands too.
"To Cana'an and her descendants, forward and back.
To kindred displaced and diasporic people, looking for home in parallel.
To the Earth and her Indigenous and traditional stewards globally.
Towards re-membrance, freedom, and deeper care and belonging to life, land, and each other"
I hope it will speak to all, but I wanted to add a special note for other peoples of the Levant/Cana'an: This was a really hard read for me because the storytelling of our wisdom, science, and joy is contextualized within our realities of historical and ongoing colonialism and attempted erasure. It's a beautiful story even if it's painful. I knew it was going to be hard when I saw the last line in Layla's introduction "May this book reach the hands and ears of who needs it and will put it to use for our mutual liberation, healing, and re-membarance inshallah". I'm just so grateful that it reached my hands too.
May 24, 2024
If you are like me, you’ve been inundated by images of mass destruction on a daily basis these last few months. While Gaza is the central focus for most, this is far from the only place ravaged by death and decimation. Lebanon, particularly in the south, has been assaulted by the IOF with extreme and haphazard attacks. Shelling, drones, and illegal use of white phosphorus have indiscriminately killed dozens of civilians, displacing thousands.
The loss of human life is of course the spotlight of atrocity but that is not to disregard the immense level of ecocide that has ravaged the south Lebanese countryside. It is estimated that 47,000 olive trees have been destroyed and forest fires have spread due to these attacks. White phosphorus does horrendous things to the human body as well as poisons the earth in which it lands upon.
It is with this background knowledge that I come to reading The Land In Our Bones. The Land In Our Bones is a book written by Lebanese American author Layla K Feghali. Feghali, while being born in the US, has spent much of her life in the Lebanese countryside in the villages of her ancestors. She has studied the native plants and the way in which they traditionally played a part in daily life. This book looks to share this information, offering insight on the plants of the region, stories of her upbringing, and discussion on what ancestry in diaspora means.
This book looks to accomplish a lot and I’m quite impressed with how well it goes about conveying all this information. Part one focuses mainly on the plants and spices found in the Levant, showcasing their role in cooking, medicine, and daily life. Offering an index on the familiar and unfamiliar, it really gives a great overview into what these plants are and how they have been used for thousands of years.
Part two offers a deeper look into the divine feminine. Showcasing the relationship between the land and the traditions of local women in habits of midwives, oracles, and general maternity practices. This is a subject that is rarely discussed and in doing so Feghali offers a great resource and record of these practices.
Part three offers more discussion on ancestry and diaspora. Feghali expresses the great privilege she has in being able to visit and spend so much time in her ancestral home when so many other people of the region cannot due to ongoing war, occupation, or eradication of those villages. The fact that Feghali has this experience is a rarity among many people of this region, even those who currently live there. By sharing her knowledge and experiences she is offering a grander insight into an essential part of exploring your own relationship with ancestral home and traditions.
I really enjoyed reading this and have recommended it to many of my fellow SWANA friends. While focusing on the Levant, this book discusses indigenous traditions on a grand scale. Arab people will probably get the most out of this book but that’s not to say there isn’t a great understanding of indigenous identity that people of a broader range wouldn’t be able to understand and appreciate.
The loss of human life is of course the spotlight of atrocity but that is not to disregard the immense level of ecocide that has ravaged the south Lebanese countryside. It is estimated that 47,000 olive trees have been destroyed and forest fires have spread due to these attacks. White phosphorus does horrendous things to the human body as well as poisons the earth in which it lands upon.
It is with this background knowledge that I come to reading The Land In Our Bones. The Land In Our Bones is a book written by Lebanese American author Layla K Feghali. Feghali, while being born in the US, has spent much of her life in the Lebanese countryside in the villages of her ancestors. She has studied the native plants and the way in which they traditionally played a part in daily life. This book looks to share this information, offering insight on the plants of the region, stories of her upbringing, and discussion on what ancestry in diaspora means.
This book looks to accomplish a lot and I’m quite impressed with how well it goes about conveying all this information. Part one focuses mainly on the plants and spices found in the Levant, showcasing their role in cooking, medicine, and daily life. Offering an index on the familiar and unfamiliar, it really gives a great overview into what these plants are and how they have been used for thousands of years.
Part two offers a deeper look into the divine feminine. Showcasing the relationship between the land and the traditions of local women in habits of midwives, oracles, and general maternity practices. This is a subject that is rarely discussed and in doing so Feghali offers a great resource and record of these practices.
Part three offers more discussion on ancestry and diaspora. Feghali expresses the great privilege she has in being able to visit and spend so much time in her ancestral home when so many other people of the region cannot due to ongoing war, occupation, or eradication of those villages. The fact that Feghali has this experience is a rarity among many people of this region, even those who currently live there. By sharing her knowledge and experiences she is offering a grander insight into an essential part of exploring your own relationship with ancestral home and traditions.
I really enjoyed reading this and have recommended it to many of my fellow SWANA friends. While focusing on the Levant, this book discusses indigenous traditions on a grand scale. Arab people will probably get the most out of this book but that’s not to say there isn’t a great understanding of indigenous identity that people of a broader range wouldn’t be able to understand and appreciate.
February 23, 2024
This was absolutely beautiful and finishing this book has made my heart feel so full. COVID took my grandmother a few years ago and it has been hard knowing that we lost the matriarch of the family who was a wealth of knowledge of our family's Bedouin medicine and teachings. It has made me appreciate and savor all of what she taught me. In 'The Land in Our Bones' Feghali really helped give background and understanding to some of the plants that are absolute staples in my life because of my grandma and made me realize how much medicinal wisdom she had passed down to me without me realizing it.
I borrowed this digitally through my library and now I want to buy a physical copy of the book to keep for reference, because I have already implemented a few of the plantcestors the way Feghali has taught within this book and I am in awe.
This book ended up being such a salve on the heart and soul and I loved every page of this. I hope more amazing books like this continue to come out to continue to pass on that knowledge, especially when we no longer have the fountains of knowledge within our lives, or for those who never have and would like to learn more.
Beautiful, healing, and captivating.
I borrowed this digitally through my library and now I want to buy a physical copy of the book to keep for reference, because I have already implemented a few of the plantcestors the way Feghali has taught within this book and I am in awe.
This book ended up being such a salve on the heart and soul and I loved every page of this. I hope more amazing books like this continue to come out to continue to pass on that knowledge, especially when we no longer have the fountains of knowledge within our lives, or for those who never have and would like to learn more.
Beautiful, healing, and captivating.
March 24, 2024
This book was such a labor of love and it’s palpable in every page. Beautifully informative and deeply rooted in culture and appreciation for the land and ancestors, you can tell it’s a special read from the start.
June 9, 2024
4.5 stars. Beautiful book! I learned so much and really appreciate how thoughtful and intimate this book was. If you like Braiding Sweetgrass, I highly recommend this.
January 27, 2024
This beautiful book is much more than just about the herbalism in the Middle East, it is about the culture, the folklore, and the search for the (almost) forgotten way of living. It is a book about the relationship between the land and its people. I imagine this book will resonate not only with people interested in plants and plant medicines, but also with people of dual national identity and second generation immigrants who search for their own place in their complicated cultural heritage.
The author takes us on her own journey of exploration of her roots as a member of Canaan diaspora living primarily in USA. She tells us about her experience of being caught between two cultures – American and “Canaan” and her search for the integration of those two. As someone that that has lived multiple years outside my own country, I can relate to her journey and wanting to preserve the legacies of her forefathers.
My favorite thing about this book is the introduction of the term “plantcestors” – a portmanteau of “plant” and “ancestors”, and it encapsulates everything I myself have felt in relation to plants around me – spiritual beings that sustain me and give me everything I need, my teachers and friends. I enjoyed how the author’s search for connection to her lineage went through the relationship with plants.
As an herbalist, I was especially interested in the herbal monographs. They were different than what I am used to in my herbals, not so scientific but based more around the author’s experience of and the folk use in the Canaan region. I especially enjoyed reading about the herbs and the rituals used in pregnancy and birth.
The author takes us on her own journey of exploration of her roots as a member of Canaan diaspora living primarily in USA. She tells us about her experience of being caught between two cultures – American and “Canaan” and her search for the integration of those two. As someone that that has lived multiple years outside my own country, I can relate to her journey and wanting to preserve the legacies of her forefathers.
My favorite thing about this book is the introduction of the term “plantcestors” – a portmanteau of “plant” and “ancestors”, and it encapsulates everything I myself have felt in relation to plants around me – spiritual beings that sustain me and give me everything I need, my teachers and friends. I enjoyed how the author’s search for connection to her lineage went through the relationship with plants.
As an herbalist, I was especially interested in the herbal monographs. They were different than what I am used to in my herbals, not so scientific but based more around the author’s experience of and the folk use in the Canaan region. I especially enjoyed reading about the herbs and the rituals used in pregnancy and birth.
June 9, 2024
Going into this book I was so intrigued to read about the plants and plant medicines from places I am not personally familiar with, and I I did get that. But what I also got was a book about culture and identity, and being able to read about something I love so much (plants, herbalism and botany) from a perspective so different from my own was wonderful.
Much in the vein of Kimmerer's teachings, this book tells us that we need to honour the land, to remember that it is the provider of life and we need to protect it. I love the word "plantcestors" (plant ancestors), for it invokes the feeling of wonder that plants contain when you come to realise just how long they have been around, and how important they have been for countless generations that have come before you.
While plants tie the threads of this book together, beneath them we follow Feghali along a journey through Cana'an's history and a more personal journey of how the author feels caught between the two cultures she knows and how she is trying to bring them together in her own identity.
I learned a great deal from reading this, both about plants and plant history and about the Middle East. I believe anyone can benefit from this book, even if you don't fully subscribe to the author's personal philosophy. There are some important lessons here that I think we will all need to use in the future.
Thank you to the publisher, North Atlantic Books, and NetGalley for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Much in the vein of Kimmerer's teachings, this book tells us that we need to honour the land, to remember that it is the provider of life and we need to protect it. I love the word "plantcestors" (plant ancestors), for it invokes the feeling of wonder that plants contain when you come to realise just how long they have been around, and how important they have been for countless generations that have come before you.
While plants tie the threads of this book together, beneath them we follow Feghali along a journey through Cana'an's history and a more personal journey of how the author feels caught between the two cultures she knows and how she is trying to bring them together in her own identity.
I learned a great deal from reading this, both about plants and plant history and about the Middle East. I believe anyone can benefit from this book, even if you don't fully subscribe to the author's personal philosophy. There are some important lessons here that I think we will all need to use in the future.
Thank you to the publisher, North Atlantic Books, and NetGalley for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2023
This book examines ethnobotany and things I had never considered before approaching this book. Feghali explores our ancestors practices for healing (Plantcestral Re-Membrance) and teaches the reader to learn from multiple cultures that surround us, and to elevate our interest in the plants and living things that we disregard far too easily. Honestly lost for words at how much this book has taught me, and I think anyone with an interest in spirituality, herbalism, fungi, nature or the lost parts of culture would adore this book. Everyone else would at the very least learn something greatly intriguing. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for honest review.
February 15, 2024
An illuminating and healing read.
The ideas and connections being made in this book between herbalism, living, ancestry across time and place are mind blowing. Those who study healing, herbalism, or botany will be especially rewarded with new perspectives. Those who seek to decolonize their own healing journeys will be gifted with wisdoms.
Highly recommend reading this one with open mindedness, ready to shift into new realms of understanding.
thankful for my press gifted advance copy
The ideas and connections being made in this book between herbalism, living, ancestry across time and place are mind blowing. Those who study healing, herbalism, or botany will be especially rewarded with new perspectives. Those who seek to decolonize their own healing journeys will be gifted with wisdoms.
Highly recommend reading this one with open mindedness, ready to shift into new realms of understanding.
thankful for my press gifted advance copy
April 2, 2024
An absolutely stunning book ♥️
October 19, 2024
Reading this book unlocked so many memories of my family’s traditions and medicinal practices. I’m so glad this book exists to document our ancestors’ wisdom, especially for those in diaspora. I strongly urge anyone specifically from the Levantine / Cana’an area to study this book and gift it to family & friends
February 10, 2024
The main theme here, i think, is that plants and nature have been used for thousands of years, spanning from ancient times, and into today. As societies and cultures change, so has the land and the plants that thrive there. I believe the message here is to remember that the land and what it provides is invaluable. It can provide us a means to survive, even in the hardest of times, and should be protected and passed down to future generation in our family.
Throughout the book the reader will understand how using plants as food and medicine was a big influence in the authors cultural heritage and childhood upbringing. It is the wisdom of our parents and grandparents who reminds us about the linkage between humanity and the natural world. I would recommend this book readers who enjoy nature and plants from a different perspective.
Throughout the book the reader will understand how using plants as food and medicine was a big influence in the authors cultural heritage and childhood upbringing. It is the wisdom of our parents and grandparents who reminds us about the linkage between humanity and the natural world. I would recommend this book readers who enjoy nature and plants from a different perspective.
May 25, 2024
The introduction was far too long and repetitive and a bit too stilted for me, personally, but the rest was absolutely fantastic. Beautiful book. So many interesting things to learn.
July 26, 2024
As a person of Lebanese/Syrian descent who grew up on turtle island very disconnected from my ancestral culture, I felt insecure and confused of where to even start to find my way back to my roots. Discovering Layla’s work including this book has transformed my life in so many ways.
Before this, I’d gone down many dead ends, including “new age” spirituality and “place medicine” that really focus only the the individual and don’t get into the deeper questions that would always bother me. How can I actually show up? What do I *do* with new information? How can I connect to others?
I believe this book will be extremely helpful to anyone who is seeking a way to approach life, healing, activism, and of course, working with plants and the earth. It clears away so much nonsense and encourages you to seek your own agency and rootedness, not in a “quick fix” but a remembrance of essential things that in our culture have been forgotten or confused.
Layla does not shy away from “the political” as many people in this sphere do, because there is really nothing more “political” than the land. She is honest and grounded, empathetic and fierce, her decades of experience in community organizing power her ideas and her poetic communication ensures they will hit home.
Her love and deep reverence for her ancestral homeland and its people shine through so strongly, and this extends as well to lands we find ourselves in diaspora. I deeply appreciated how she made the connections between these places and highlighted the contradictions and possible paths forward.
Do yourself a favor and get this book, and check out Layla’s work and wonderful offerings. The work is yours to do, someone like Layla will be a wonderful guide towards your own liberation and the liberation of us all. 🤍
Before this, I’d gone down many dead ends, including “new age” spirituality and “place medicine” that really focus only the the individual and don’t get into the deeper questions that would always bother me. How can I actually show up? What do I *do* with new information? How can I connect to others?
I believe this book will be extremely helpful to anyone who is seeking a way to approach life, healing, activism, and of course, working with plants and the earth. It clears away so much nonsense and encourages you to seek your own agency and rootedness, not in a “quick fix” but a remembrance of essential things that in our culture have been forgotten or confused.
Layla does not shy away from “the political” as many people in this sphere do, because there is really nothing more “political” than the land. She is honest and grounded, empathetic and fierce, her decades of experience in community organizing power her ideas and her poetic communication ensures they will hit home.
Her love and deep reverence for her ancestral homeland and its people shine through so strongly, and this extends as well to lands we find ourselves in diaspora. I deeply appreciated how she made the connections between these places and highlighted the contradictions and possible paths forward.
Do yourself a favor and get this book, and check out Layla’s work and wonderful offerings. The work is yours to do, someone like Layla will be a wonderful guide towards your own liberation and the liberation of us all. 🤍
October 1, 2023
As someone without a background in herbalism, I found this book to be an absolute gem. It delves into the fascinating connection between the land and its plant life, offering a rich tapestry of historical, cultural, ecological, and mythological insights. Feghali's writing encourages us to form a deeper bond with the plants, landscapes, and narratives that shape the world of SWANA herbalism. While the book primarily focuses on the herbal traditions of Canaan, its profound message resonates with people from all walks of life, inviting us to acknowledge our shared botanical heritage.
I especially enjoyed the chapters about spirituality and divine feminine as these are the modalities I work with. The rituals described in the book can be used not only by herbalists, but anyone who wants to deeper connect with the spiritual energy of plants.
This book is undoubtedly a masterpiece and a valuable addition to the library of herbal medicine literature. Its primary dedication to the people of the SWANA region, especially those in diaspora, is commendable. However, it also stands as a generous gift to anyone with an interest in herbalism, gardening, or simply a love for plants, regardless of their cultural background.
*Thank you to North Atlantic Books and Layla K. Feghali for the ARC copy of this book*
I especially enjoyed the chapters about spirituality and divine feminine as these are the modalities I work with. The rituals described in the book can be used not only by herbalists, but anyone who wants to deeper connect with the spiritual energy of plants.
This book is undoubtedly a masterpiece and a valuable addition to the library of herbal medicine literature. Its primary dedication to the people of the SWANA region, especially those in diaspora, is commendable. However, it also stands as a generous gift to anyone with an interest in herbalism, gardening, or simply a love for plants, regardless of their cultural background.
*Thank you to North Atlantic Books and Layla K. Feghali for the ARC copy of this book*
December 5, 2023
I had never heard of an ethnobotanist before, but in this book Layla K. Feghali does an excellent job of introducing the reader to the intricacies of the ways in which botanical knowledge and local culture interact to produce a greater appreciation for the value of medicinal and magical plants.
She examines the heritage of two key geographical areas, namely the Middle East and the Levant, to see how the qualities of special plants can help us to heal from the wounds inflicted by human disrespect - towards each other and towards nature.
In exploring ancestral healing practices as part of what she calls Plantcestral Re-Membrance, Feghali draws on ancient systems of treatment for a variety of ailments, and offers a way forward for humans to live by exercising stewardship of the natural world.
Whether or not you subscribe wholeheartedly to her philosophy, there are certainly many elements of interest to be taken from this fascinating book, with its deep rooted knowledge of indigenous cultural practices and plantlore.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
She examines the heritage of two key geographical areas, namely the Middle East and the Levant, to see how the qualities of special plants can help us to heal from the wounds inflicted by human disrespect - towards each other and towards nature.
In exploring ancestral healing practices as part of what she calls Plantcestral Re-Membrance, Feghali draws on ancient systems of treatment for a variety of ailments, and offers a way forward for humans to live by exercising stewardship of the natural world.
Whether or not you subscribe wholeheartedly to her philosophy, there are certainly many elements of interest to be taken from this fascinating book, with its deep rooted knowledge of indigenous cultural practices and plantlore.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
September 19, 2024
As a Lebanese-American woman Who was born in the states, I’m happy this book exists. It is such a gift to see my culture represented, especially from the first generation perspective. However, even with my creative, writing background, career as a therapist, and shared identity with the author, I found this book very difficult to follow due to the ornate and intellectual language. I recognize that this book is probably the result of extensive research and academic thought, but I wish it had spent more time on personal experiences represented through simple language. Storytelling to me will always be more powerful than details and taxonomy. This feels especially true at a time in America, as well as Lebanon, when storytelling is being replaced by a western voice of research and history… Which is ironic to say, considering the content and intention of this book. I don’t mean to undermine or undervalue the author’s work in any way, Because it’s clear this book is a labor of love from a genuine place. I just wish this book wasn’t written from such an academic lens, which makes it a little less accessible for a general audience.
January 5, 2025
Feghali offers a book that is a reference work for plants that help us to make or relearn relationships to the land.
It is part reference, full of the history and usage of plants.
It is part evidence, that the plants do indeed have proven benefits. The evidence is a mixture of stories passed down in communities or learned usage from Feghali’s own life or the life of those she has interviewed, like midwife practices in Lebanon. Scientific evidence is used to support traditional and indigenous knowledge.
Finally, it is part instruction from Feghali’s own work, teaching her audience how to use this information to heal by connecting to all of the lands that have meaning to us, whether in our current life or in our ancestors’ lives.
Can be read all in one go, or as something that you visit and revisit over time.
It is part reference, full of the history and usage of plants.
It is part evidence, that the plants do indeed have proven benefits. The evidence is a mixture of stories passed down in communities or learned usage from Feghali’s own life or the life of those she has interviewed, like midwife practices in Lebanon. Scientific evidence is used to support traditional and indigenous knowledge.
Finally, it is part instruction from Feghali’s own work, teaching her audience how to use this information to heal by connecting to all of the lands that have meaning to us, whether in our current life or in our ancestors’ lives.
Can be read all in one go, or as something that you visit and revisit over time.
January 1, 2025
This book was recommended based on other books I've read. I guess I didn't look close enough at the full description.
I thought it was going to be more about healing herbs and how the land can provide. What I didn't realize is that the author would be exploring her ancestry in Lebanon and more. Although she does use plants as food to try to tie it all together, it just wasn't enough for me.
Honestly, I rarely don't finish a book, but I quit this one about one-third of the way through. It just wasn't what I wanted. I hate to give it such a low score, but it just didn't capture me and I didn't want to give it any more time.
I thought it was going to be more about healing herbs and how the land can provide. What I didn't realize is that the author would be exploring her ancestry in Lebanon and more. Although she does use plants as food to try to tie it all together, it just wasn't enough for me.
Honestly, I rarely don't finish a book, but I quit this one about one-third of the way through. It just wasn't what I wanted. I hate to give it such a low score, but it just didn't capture me and I didn't want to give it any more time.
January 7, 2025
This is book is an incredible labor of love and provides so much hidden history. One of the many things I appreciated about this book is the way plants, politics and history are woven together to teach us about the landscape. So many books that are meant to teach us about plants are one dimensional and void of the political reality that quite literally shapes the land. This book is written from a genuinely indigenous perspective on the earth and our relationship to it. A one of a kind book with invaluable information told in a beautiful narrative.
September 24, 2024
A love letter to Lebanon and Canaan more broadly.
This book wasn't what I expected, which is maybe an unfair meter, but at the start I thought it would be botany and ecology and by the end I wanted memoir when really it fell somewhere in between and was neither. There were some really lovely reflections on physical belong and our coevolution with ecosystems. Overall, though, I don't know what I'm walking away with aside from a reference list for herbal healing.
This book wasn't what I expected, which is maybe an unfair meter, but at the start I thought it would be botany and ecology and by the end I wanted memoir when really it fell somewhere in between and was neither. There were some really lovely reflections on physical belong and our coevolution with ecosystems. Overall, though, I don't know what I'm walking away with aside from a reference list for herbal healing.
Want to read
October 6, 2024rec by rachel and eli
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2024
Lovely writing but I was definitely the wrong audience for this.
January 29, 2025
Favorite read in a while! It’s rare to find a botany or anthropology book filled with so much poetry and heart. Hail the plantcestors. 💚🪴🫛🌾🌳🌷🌺
March 3, 2025
Really took my time to read it and will probably read it again in the future. Beautiful storytelling, very informative. If you liked *braiding sweetgrass*, you would like this one as well.
July 8, 2024
This is one of the most important and timely books of our decade. Layla Feghali shares her extensive "Plantcestral" wisdom combined with indigenous healing practices. My book has been highlighted extensively - as I know this is a book I will come back to again and again - and leave to my children. This is the book we need NOW to stop the genocide and heal the desecration of the Holy Land of Cana'an. It has been the only book that has brought complete peace of mind and HOPE to me these last 10 months. I hope every single person reads it - and passes it along to their friends and family.
November 11, 2024
The Land in our Bones is such a generative offering filled with historical insight, cultural reclamation, plantcesteral knowledge, and a very personal, very clear call for justice.
There is so much generosity in this offering; from the painful realities of occupation and devastating impact that colonisation has on this planet to some profoundly nourishing relationships with plantcestors and tradition — there are also many profiles on herbal kin, some that one rarely sees in “western” herbal texts and serves as a reminder of how much we all owe to the SWANA peoples for cultivating the foundations of our contemporary medicine.
This is a gift that actually filled me with some hope, a reminder that restoration and liberation are truly possible through collective action and a deeper, relational understanding of all who we call kin.
This is a must read, a truly expansive, and desperately needed, voice in our movements.
There is so much generosity in this offering; from the painful realities of occupation and devastating impact that colonisation has on this planet to some profoundly nourishing relationships with plantcestors and tradition — there are also many profiles on herbal kin, some that one rarely sees in “western” herbal texts and serves as a reminder of how much we all owe to the SWANA peoples for cultivating the foundations of our contemporary medicine.
This is a gift that actually filled me with some hope, a reminder that restoration and liberation are truly possible through collective action and a deeper, relational understanding of all who we call kin.
This is a must read, a truly expansive, and desperately needed, voice in our movements.
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