Author Archives: Katie Ryan (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Christmas Traditions Around the World

Taking a look at how different cultures embody the Christmas spirit

With less than a week until Christmas day, people across America are scrambling for the perfect gifts and stressing about cooking the perfect meal.  Some might call it the over-commercialization of Christmas or an elaborate celebration of the season, but … Continue reading

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Tinkers, by Paul Harding

The Pulitzer Prize winning novel about life, death, and memory

It begins, “George Washington Crosby began to hallucinate eight days before he died.”  From there, we enter a beautiful, chaotic world that spans generations.  Paul Harding creates a web of characters that compliment one another while illuminating life’s most profound … Continue reading

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Balinese Funeral Ceremony

Part one of Bali’s intricate end-of-life ceremonies

Bali, one of 33 provinces in Indonesia, is not only an exotic tourist destination but also home to the majority of Hindus in that country—92% to be precise.  Along with this factoid comes a wealth of cultural knowledge that details … Continue reading

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Finding Peace of Mind by Cleansing the Chakras

How you can help yourself and others find peace at death

Wouldn’t it be nice to center yourself and find peace as you approach death?  According to this ancient spiritual practice, you can.  The seven chakras, which come from the Sanskrit word for wheel, control our emotional well being—particularly as we … Continue reading

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Healing After Loss, by Martha W. Hickman

Sorting your way through grief a little at a time, day by day

As we approach the holidays, it can be both a joyful and a sorrowful time for those who have lost loved ones.  For a season that cherishes time spent with friends and family, it can be also be a harsh … Continue reading

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Taking a Look at the Traditional Irish Wake

How the beginnings of one tradition led to another

Many might be surprised to learn that evidence exists linking the traditional Irish wake, rooted in Catholic practices, to an ancient Jewish tradition, in which mourners left the burial chamber of a recently departed loved one open for three days … Continue reading

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