No matter where you live and in what circumstances, it’s evident that ours is a planet that has been damaged over centuries of human growth and scientific progress. The earth’s resources are limited. For that reason alone, it’s important to protect and preserve what we have from our land to our air to our water supplies. It’s especially important when you consider that surplus of twelve million new lives each year.
So, how does death connect to life? What does the state and quality of our planet have to do with the passing of one person’s life? For as long as humans have existed, certain rituals have been associated with the respectful disposal of the remains of those who have passed away. One of the most enduring traditions worldwide—regardless of spiritual or social beliefs—has always been burial or interment.
Burial has traditionally been the most employed means of disposition. This ritual has its roots in varied beliefs and traditions. Originally, burial of remains was a way of protecting the deceased from hungry animals. However, an enduring spiritual belief has been associated with the burial of the dead—the concept of returning to the earth, the comfort of being a part of the whole of creation.
However, in the twenty-first century, we’re now facing a marked shortage of burial space and a deficiency of sanctioned and official land for traditional burial. Let’s explore traditional burial, its rituals and customs and how those rites affect the earth. We’ll also look at alternatives to traditional burial such as cremation and burial at sea and we’ll point out how those means of disposition affect the planet.
One comforting alternative to those more traditional means of interment and disposition is the idea of an ecologically friendly Green Burial. Though it may
seem like a new idea stemming from a renewed desire to protect our resources, Green Burial is actually a revered and lasting concept and one that can employ the spiritual and psychological ideals of a traditional burial, all the while making for a sounder, safer and more secure future for the generations which will continue long after we’ve passed.
Each person reading this guide is going to be doing so for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you are planning for your own eternal rest in advance. Maybe you have recently lost someone very dear to you and you are trying to figure out the best means of honoring their memory. Some of you may be reading this simply because you’re curious.
We must explore both the science and the rites of traditional burial and the standard practices of embalming. By understanding the details of these facts, I hope to show you the reality of what is necessary and what isn’t as well as point out what may or may not be of importance to you based on your personal, legal, and, in some cases, spiritual beliefs.
By exploring the traditional or “usual” path that most have taken—especially over the last century—I hope to show you that you have many other options in the loving disposal of someone’s remains and point out that we now live in a world in which burial can be a very personal and moving tribute, tailored to each individual—a tribute that can not only be of a comfort to you and your family, but also one that can be comfortable for our planet.
Hal is the author of several critically acclaimed ebooks specifically written to help people deal with end of life issues. His ebooks include topics such as: cremation, writing and delivering a eulogy, eco-friendly green funerals, funeral planning, organ donation, and buying and selling cemetery plots. To find out more about his CemeterySpot family of free services and resources, to learn more about his books, and to get a free gift, please visit: http://www.cemeteryspot.com.
