What is a natural funeral? How can we celebrate death in a more natural setting? Is there a distinct correlation between how we live and how we die? Is our funeral reflective of our life values?
In speaking with a gentleman who is part of the Green Burials, I was left with more wonderings?
You have to wonder, how we decided to preserve the body against its natural cycle of being part of a new birth in the earth? Why are we putting them in cement vaults that will not recycle easily?
I was educated that even the cremation fumes are harmful and less natural then a shroud type burial.
Why do we want to preserve the body at all costs or destroy it quickly?
Is it because we don't see our body in the natural cycle of earth?
As the man from the green burial ponders natural death, I told him, he may be asked what is a natural life. How do we live naturally? And, if we live naturally, will it be easier to have a natural funeral?
Some have chosen to discard the body and go onto Life Celebrations.
However, I am now seeing how a natural burial and funeral would be more aligned to my way of living.
In order to really see natural or green burials as part of your world, I am believing, that you have to live a more natural life.
As he spoke about the green burials and how he would like to believe parts of him would go on and become plant life - to be part of the landscape where you are buried - this sounded more in tune to what I believe.
Just as my heritage to my children is how I lived - pieces of me will continue on in the choices they make...so too will my body come back in new life forms IF planted in a green burial site.
To stop the recycling of the body seems so un-natural.
How long will it take to reach back into the cycle of life when it is sealed in a box of cement?
Most funerals that I have been to, are based upon what a religion needs or believes. They are the opening to heaven.
Doesn't it seem so odd that when the body dies you are supposedly then 'in heaven'.
I am betting, that a natural death is when you find heaven here on earth...and you are okay in letting it go back to the dust from which we came.
What is natural about the funeral you have planned?
