Considering I’m such an advocate for green burial and a ‘leave no trace’ mind set, I don’t half love a cemetery. I was recently lucky enough to visit the beautiful Rakowicki Cemetery in Krakow whilst it was dusted with snow. The cemetery was built in about 1800 but has expanded massively since then. It now covers…
Surprisingly often, when I ask people how they want to be disposed of when they die they tell me that they’re donating their body to science. Apart from the fact that they want their body to go to good use once they’re done with it this is also often seen as a way to avoid funeral…
Stereographs are beautiful and offer a 3D window into the past. People recorded all sorts of things through this medium including landscapes, fictional dioramas, war, porn and of course death. However you need the kit to help bring these pictures to life. Luckily for us the brilliant people over at the New York Public Library…
Explaining the concept of death to children can be a daunting and awkward task. We are afraid of scaring of upsetting them but they are actually a lot more matter of fact and down to earth about these things than we give them credit for. These days there are many books available to help explain…
Last night I was pointed towards this thread on Mumsnet entitled ‘Why don’t people rent coffins?’. The writer wanted to know why we burn beautiful and very expensive coffins when it would be cheaper and more eco-friendly to rent one. Looking at the responses that followed I was surprised to see how many people had questions about cremation…
I’ve just finished reading Felicity Warner’s beautiful book ‘A Safe Journey Home – A Simple Guide To Achieving a Peaceful Death’. It’s full to the brim with practical and spiritual advice on how to ease the passage of the dying. Felicity Warner pioneered the Soul Midwife movement. Soul Midwives are “holistic and spiritual companions to…
The best thing about the world is that it’s full of wonderous, beautiful, fascinating, fun individuals. So why is it that we so often find ourselves sticking to strict traditions and a ‘one size fits all’ mentality when it comes to our farewell parties? Of course it’s totally understandable that grief makes it feel difficult…
The brilliant Death Cafe is putting together plans and resources to open a real Death Cafe in London. This is very exciting news!! For those of you unfamiliar with Death Cafe it is a not for profit organisation that organises group directed discussions about death. Their objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a…
As I’m always banging on about the importance of preparing for your own funeral in advance I thought it was time for me to shut up, put my money where my mouth is and get on with it. Having thought long and hard about what kind of disposal and ceremony I want I have decided…
The Winding Sheet 