Going Out Green

I agree and that is one reason I want to be cremated. I don’t like the idea of being put in a lead box and then a cement valut and put in the ground. There are way to many of those in the ground alredy.Beside I want my children to remember me in a happy way not in sorrow. I want a wake, even though I am not Catholic but Wiccan, and I want my children to scatter my ashes over the ocean where I long to be. My mother hates this idea of me being cremated. She says she doesn’t want to think that her child is being burned up. But it is cheaper than a burial anyway. If I had the chose or being buried in a nice pine box and laid in the ground in Kentucky I would take that as well. But there are too many expenses in burial ceremonies any way. The only ones getting rich are the undertakers and funeral homes. I have seen it too many times the finances that they charge for all the other stuff that goes with a funeral. It is almost like being robbed. I don’t want to leave that worry to my children and my family. I guess that is all I have to say about that. Phoenixo

One of the things I’ve heard of is a way of having your cremains used to make an artificial reef. I love that idea! And if someone wants a place to go and “honor” me, then let’s have a bench set up near the ocean somewhere, with my name on it, and let them go and sit and enjoy the ocean and remember me.

I have always wanted to be cremated. At first it was the cost then I when I became more conscious, it was the space and environmental issues. Now that my spirituality is evolving it makes much more sense tome to be returned to ashes.
Like Phoenixo, IF I had a nice spot on my mountain I would rather be cremated there and left (rather than buried).
The cost of funerals are outrageous and everything is sold on a cafeteria style… each thing has a cost, body prep, use of a hearse, use of a car, organist…I thought it was a package deal….but no…anything extra is extra $$$.
My family knows my wishes and I,as well as my husband and kids, will be cremated.

Although the expense of a traditional burial is a big reason why I prefer cremation, the main reason is that most people feel they have to go to the cemetary in order to feel close to their loved one. I want my children to feel as though they can talk and commune with me whereever they are without having to sit beside my dead body to do it. Scatter my ashes to the wind. That way no matter where you are in the world that same wind will be there and so will I.

actually, I always wanted my cremains added to somebody’s compost…love the idea of really ‘pushing up the daisies’!

“”actually, I always wanted my cremains added to somebody’s compost…love the idea of really ‘pushing up the daisies’! “”

That sentiment was expressed by Earl Hayes (of The Weavers– a folk group that also included Pete Seeger) in a song he wrote about 40 or so years ago. Supposedly it also was stated in his will, but I don’ know if it was legally possible to actually carry out.

A very good friend (& well known Pagan elder who will remain nameless) buried his father-in-law recently. He was laid to rest on a hilltop on my friend’s farm, in a wooden box & not embalmed. They have oodles of $$$ (millions) so that was not the issue. They chose the natural way, giving back to the Mother.

Me, I opt for cremation! Little vials for my friends to keep & a lovely Egyptian urn that my son will have to move to dust around!!!
Blessings!

I saw a special about this… they use satellite tracking to find your plot. no concrete marker to cover up the Great Mother no materials lowered into the ground with you… just you, so Mother Earth can put you and your nutrients back into the circle. unlike in a trad burial, where you are put in a box, designed so you can’t return to the Earth.

I fully plan on doing it… If my Native burial including me being burned outside under the full moon will not be granted for whatever legal reason.

Dunno about the law in the US, but in England it’s legal to bury people any way you like so long as you don’t break environmental rules on disposal of organic wastes. I dug my late wife’s grave in a nature reserve with help from the reserve owner, buried her wrapped in a shroud (no box) in a Pagan ceremony conducted by my favourite HPS, and planted a hawthorn over her. It was beautiful, and I never paid a penny to an undertaker.

This is really a splendid discussion. I too have already told all of my family members that I want to be cremated when I go, and my ashes scattered off one of the mountains at the end of the Appalachians, where I did most of my growing up. Not only are all of the cemeteries getting filled up, I do not want to know that my body is lying rotting, but that would probably be ok too, if my family did not have to go into debt to do it, but if I chose a burial, I know they would spend the money to do it instead of doing it the old fashioned way.

My babies will and family will be able to just look up and know I am around somewhere to talk to if they want, not having to go to my “tombstone” to feel close to me.

This is a fantastic thing to discuss.

After the last funeral we attended, I got really freaked out and begged my husband not to fill my body with chemicals and put me in so many boxes, to please have me cremated and scatter me from a mountaintop. I wasn’t thinking of the environmental impact at that time though!

I think we have to be careful with this. I prefer cremation since your body is just taking us space and you don’t need it anymore. But letting the body stay unembalmed and buring it (esp. with a pine box that is not airtight) might release dangerous microbes into the environment, esp. if one dies of a disease. This is based on the story I read about the cemetary that was uncovered in a mudslide and bodies from the Black Pague were unearthed and the disease had a second go at the population altho it wasn’t as epidemic as it had been. Some viruses are very powerful and evidently hide until they can be reactivated.

Anyone thought of crionics?

Anyone thought of Cryonics(spelled right this time) I don’t plan on being buried. Check out the Cryonics Institute.

This is an excellent thing to discuss. I’ve been telling my family for years to bury me unembalmed in a pine box on our property. Then plant a tree over me. I’ll feed the tree and they’ll have a living reminder of me.

Firstly I am very grateful to be in the same country as Runnesmith, I hope to be buried somewhere (if nature reserve would have me!!). If not I’m sure that if my body has not been infected with the bubonic plague then I shall be able to be laid to rest in a cardboard box and will request a rose bush!! I’m sure ashes are supplementary to any good compost but given the choice, which I wish we all had, I would rather minimise any further damage to the ozone layer and give, that seedling a good feast!