THE DEATH MASK.....

The Death Mask has been around for centuries, used before photography as memorial of our beloved. Made from all kinds of material, clay, plaster, even gold, the death mask is still happening today in order to memorialize famous people, except now they call it "Life Casting".   It's pretty obvious that this is where the idea of  the "mask" came from, except now it is used for movies, masquerades, Halloween, or so no one can recognize you.  There are many references to death masks in history, especially through the Mayan and Egyptian periods.  Masks were also used for ritual purposes, to represent a certain spirit.  In Victorian times, the art of phrenology was used by scientists to study the size and shape of the head, giving clues to a persons personality or character.  Not many people still ask for such memorials of their loved ones, thinking it may be too macabre in this day in age, but there are a few that still offer the service to those that are still interested.

AQUAMATION....

Aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis is the process where the body is placed in a vessel which is attached to water lines. The water has high alkaline properties and is washed over the body for several hours or days, dissolving tissue from the bones.  Once the bones are clean, they are crushed, put in an urn and given to loved ones.  The water that was used in the aquamation process is then used as a fertilizer for gardening.

Simple, isn't it?  Think about it.  No embalming, which is toxic and can seep into ground water, and retards natural decomposition.  No casket, which is a waste of expensive hardwood and hardware.  No expensive burial plot, which is a waste of land you are about to contaminate by burying your embalmed loved one in the ground in an expensive casket, leaving you heart broken and broke.

Funeral homes and society should really change how they proceed with disposal of our dead.  I know it has a lot to do with tradition and all our installed ideas of how we proceed to the next life, but just like there are many ways to die, there are many ways to be disposed of.  The more natural, the better! 

For more information on this process, please visit www.aquamationindustries.com and make a difference to this planet and all it's natural glory.

PROMESSION....

THE WAKE

A wake is when loved ones gather to celebrate the life of a person who's passed.  Usually it is planned at a particular location that the loved one was fond of and it includes all the things that made up the decease's character. The music they liked, the food they enjoyed, the people they loved and knew or associated with.  Sounds like a party? Well, it is!  I have heard many accounts from mediums and near death experiences about the party that's waiting for them when they reach the other side and I believe that we can join in. I have heard many people talk about how they avoid funerals due to the depression and rigidness of it all, but they will go to a wake because of the relaxed atmosphere which allows people to talk about that person who passed in a real, truthful and meaningful way.  Not only is it a more relaxed and happier atmosphere, but it is also a less expensive way to say good-bye. 
I recently lost a friend not long ago who, before he died, requested that there would not be a funeral. He wanted a party (wake) because that was part of his character, and a party he got!  He was a lover of live music and so they chose a venue he was familiar with and had a whole bunch of people and bands play at his wake, giving him the best send off ever!  I have also heard accounts about spirits not being able to reach their loved ones still alive due to the heaviness of their grief, it seems to create a cloud that they cannot seem to penetrate.  Maybe that is why when we are in grief that we feel so alone, but that is a topic for another day. So in the meantime, remember the things that made your lost loved one happy in their days here on earth and pray that they are still able to enjoy those things in some way shape or form.  Until next time, have fun and celebrate life!

DNA2DIAMONDS.......

This is a very beautiful idea when it comes to cherishing your loved one.  Based out of Landsville, Pennsylvainia, DNA 2 Diamonds offers you the service of creating your own special mourning jewelry by growing diamonds from DNA.  This process is done in their very high tech lab and it takes about three days to grow a diamond from either ashes or hair of the deceased loved one.  You can just pay for the diamond which starts around $1700 or you can have it set in a variety of jewel settings ranging from $500 and up.  There are payment plan options and these people seem very open to options and ideas.  I find this to be a wonderful concept, putting the true meaning back behind jewelry where it belongs. God bless!

A THEORY ON TIME.....

I have this crazy theory on time and death that I want to share with you.  Did you ever notice that the older we get the more time seems to speed up?  When we were kids it seemed like an hour lasted a week, but now that I’m in my forties, an hour is gone way too soon.  I remember being able to do so much in a day without missing a beat when I was in my twenties and now I have trouble with accomplishing a few chores in a day.  I believe that when time disappears from our recollection all together, when it speeds up so fast, our souls shoot out of our body, leaving time behind and everything to do with it.  I also believe that when it comes to car accidents or anything to do with dying young, our soul is slammed out of our body with no desire to return.   I try to grasp time and hang on to it as much as possible by being in the moment.  There is no greater magic then being in the here and now, not thinking of the past or future just being here now and truly grateful for the moment.  This is hard for a lot of people to accomplish due to society’s vicious worrisome ways, but I believe it is an exercise that we all need to practice and maybe time won’t  seem to slip so fast from our grasp.

DISCUSSION ON INHERITANCE

This can be a very touchy topic for most people.  The funeral is usually not the end to dealing with family and relatives.  Now comes the probate period and if we think we are the soul owners of our stuff, think again.  We are owned by the government and after we die, if we leave debt, our assets pay it off.  If a will is not drawn up before hand, the government can take it all, unless distributed among family members before hand.  Many people are starting to take on this form of thinking.  Giving away what you own before you go can avoid the use of lawyers, the long process of probate and the cause of family feuds.  If you think about it, it’s just stuff!  Yes we want to hang on to their memory and yes we want to hang on to their stuff and keep it in the family, but is it worth all the headaches?  Probate can take a long time and frustrate the spoiled selfish bratty thinking of most individuals who think their going to live high and mighty when daddy dies!  Maybe daddy’s in debt and you don’t know it!  That big old house belongs to the government, not you!  I believe if you really want something in this world, or  something similar, then go get it yourself, don’t wait for relatives to pass it down.  If they do, consider it a perk in your life, but don’t expect it to be yours!  I believe that is why, in the ancient tribes, the deceased were buried with their personal belongings because they were the ones who achieved obtaining that material object and yes, it does hold their essence, but they worked hard for it or it was a personal gift and they deserved to carry it with them in the after life.  So if you know you are on the way out and can still function without help, you might want to start down sizing in order to avoid long drawn out strife, grudges and regret within the realm of your family after you go.