14 books exploring nature, connection and care

Woven from hand-dyed sisal rope, Tree of Life by Seyi Adelekun is a tactile and immersive installation which invites visitors to move in and around the tree’s central hollow trunk. Drawing on multiple traditions, the tree emerges as a universal symbol of the interconnectedness of all life, personal growth, the cyclical nature of existence and acts as a bridge between physical and spiritual realms.

The work holds space for reflection, remembrance and reconnection with the forces that sustain life, as visitors are invited to sit or lay within the work for as long as they desire.

Alongside the installation, Adelekun compiled a reading list. They say: “This collection of books explores the symbolism and meanings of the Tree of Life. Bringing together plant folklore, herbalism, foraging, ecology, spirituality and decolonial thought, they offer different ways to commune with plants through ritual, storytelling, practical knowledge and ancestral traditions.

“Together, they invite us to encounter plants not simply as resources, but as beings with whom we can cultivate reciprocal relationships. They encourage curiosity, reflection and a deeper sense of responsibility towards the living world, while highlighting that care for land is inseparable from care for one another, and that ecological and social justice are deeply interconnected.”

Tree of Life by Seyi Adelekun. Photo by Kat Mager

Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.

Decolonial Ecology: Thinking from the Caribbean World, by Malcom Ferdinand

Drawing on empirical and theoretical work in the Caribbean, Ferdinand conceptualizes a decolonial ecology that holds protecting the environment together with the political struggles against (post)colonial domination, structural racism, and misogynistic practices.

The Earth Path, by Starhawk

Seyi Adelekun. Photo: Randa Toko

The Secret Teachings of Plants, by Stephen Harrod Buhner

Readers will gain the tools necessary to gather information directly from the heart of Nature, to directly learn the medicinal uses of plants, to engage in diagnosis of disease, and to understand the soul-making process that such deep connection with the world engenders.

Plant Spirit Medicine: The Healing Power of Plants, by Eliot Cowan

Ancient shamanic practice compelled the magician-healer first to make contact with the spirit of the plant to ask for its help before administering the herbal cure. Elliot Cowan reveals these ancient practices… [and the] psychic and spiritual approach to holistic healing.

The Green Witch, by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

In The Green Witch, you will learn the way of the green witch, from how to use herbs, plants, and flowers to make potions and oils for everyday healing as well as how crystals, gems, stones, and even twigs can help you find balance within.

Art & Practice of Spiritual Herbalism: Transform, Heal, and Remember with the Power of Plants and Ancestral Medicine, by Karen M. Rose

Guided by leading Black herbalist Karen Rose, discover how to harness the magic of plants and diasporic ancestral practices in remedies and ritual.

Wild Apothecary: Reclaiming Plant Medicine for All, by Amaia Dadachanji

A practical and creative manual that invites us to deepen our relationship with the bounty of the natural world, showing us how we might use plants to support our health.

Tree of Life by Seyi Adelekun. Photo by Kat Mager

The Hedgerow Apothecary: Forager’s Handbook, by Christine Iverson

A Seasonal Companion to Finding and Gathering Wild Plants. This foraging companion is designed to be taken with you on your adventures into the hedgerows, forests and woodland all year round.

The Folklore of Plants, by Margaret Baker

Cures, magic, divination and portents were all connected with the rich variety of available plant life, especially in verdant Britain. Some of these beliefs were astonishingly long-lasting and, even if an altered or faded form, have survived the sophistications of modern life, as this book sets out to show.

Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland, by Lisa Schneidau

Here are traditional tales about the trees and plants that shape our landscapes and our lives through the seasons.

Tree of Life by Seyi Adelekun. Photo by Kat Mager

The Tree of Life: An Illustrated Study in Magic (1932), by Israel Regardie

Considered his magnum opus, this book has remained in high demand.

Food for Free, by Richard Mabey

The complete guide to help you safely identify edible species that grow around us, together with detailed artwork, photographs, field identification notes and recipes.

The Forager’s Calendar, by John Wright