Book Review: The Apothecary of Belonging

Title: The Apothecary of Belonging: Seasonal Rituals & Practical Herbalism; Reconnecting to the Land, Our Bodies & Our Communities
Author: Alexis J. Cunningfolk
Publisher: Weiser Books
Date: November 3, 2025
Pages: 272

“The Apothecary of Belonging: Seasonal Rituals & Practical Herbalism” acquaints readers with plants that serve as allies, teachers, and companions, guiding us through the seasons as they flow within and around us. Working with the premise that “we are all land,” Alexis Cunningfolk, an intersectional herbalist and witch, facilitates connections between plants and people.

She presents an overarching theme for each season, with in-depth information about three primary botanicals and short profiles of dozens of herbs that address common ailments. There are recipes for teas, journal prompts, rituals, a blessing, and suggested activities aligning with the energies of the season.

The first part of the book lays a foundation, familiarizing readers with a shared vocabulary, with the four elements, with how to form a relationship with a plant, with herbal energies, and the characteristics of the six tissue states. I was looking forward to reading the section about creating an oracle of belonging. I intended to make this tool, said to be for self-inquiry and divination, but there were no instructions or clear explanations to actually create one.

The book closes with guidance for coming home – to the land, our bodies, and our communities – when the way is lost. And in the appendixes you will find standard dosing, folk-style remedy making, and contraindications. 

I found the writing often wordy and repetitive, and occasionally difficult to understand and follow along. However, that Alexis is an herbalist gives credibility to her information for the twelve main seasonal allies and the short descriptions of more than seventy additional plants. Grouping herbs by use within each season prevents users from having to flip through a whole book looking for herbs arranged alphabetically.

About the Author:
Alexis J. Cunningfolk is the founder of Worts & Cunning Apothecary. Believing no one is meant to do this work alone, she has created plant-led spaces for healing while drawing on her experiences as a lesbian, a woman of mixed ancestry, and a third-culture kid to create practices that help folks re-enchant their lives, and live with purpose and clarity. She calls her herbalism “intersectional” because, like her magic, it is rooted in social justice, collective liberation, and inclusivity. In addition to working with plants, she’s read tarot since she was twelve, taught since she was nineteen, and snuck off to places in-between since she could walk. Find her work at www.wortsandcunning.com.

About the Reviewer:
As an eclectic solitary practitioner, I travel the country in a converted school bus and share magick with those I meet. Find me at https://thewitchonwheels.com/ and on Facebook.