The Land in Our Bones

More about the book

This exploration delves into the herbs, foodways, and land-based medicines of Lebanon and Canaan, inviting readers to reconnect with their roots amid displacement and diaspora. Herbalist Layla K. Feghali presents a rich cultural history of healing plants from Southwest Asia and North Africa, illustrating how they connect families across generations. She emphasizes the importance of cultural survival tied to land-based knowledge, examining the plants, geography, and foodways that nurture and sustain us. Feghali re-maps Canaan, addressing the complexities of diaspora and the scars left by colonization. She poses essential questions about finding home in a world disrupted by extraction and empire, exploring how we can embody the histories that unite us while acknowledging the ways we’ve been separated. This journey includes reconnecting with interrupted knowledge and rediscovering what remains after loss. The book shares lineages of folk healing passed down through generations, practices for prenatal and postpartum care, mystical traditions for spiritual healing, and earth-based methods for emotional wellness. It features recipes, family stories, and a glossary of meaningful terms, prompting reflection on belonging and lineage. Ultimately, it encourages readers to reclaim their cultural narratives and deepen their connections to the lands and communities they cherish.