Author Archives: Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

“The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief” by Francis Weller

A psychologist encourages the use of ritual in expressing our grief
Posted on July 31, 2021 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

In “The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief,” psychologist Francis Weller encourages readers to reconnect with their own grief; to hold and express it through communal sharing. Weller draws on his experiences leading … Continue reading →

Posted in Lending Insight | Leave a comment

Taiwan’s “Funeral Strippers” Liven Up Funeral Rites

The country’s unique tradition aims to attract crowds and entertain the dead
Posted on July 25, 2021 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

While turning funerals into celebratory events is an increasingly common phenomenon around the globe, Taiwan has been honoring its dead in a rather unique way since the 1980s: with funeral strippers. Young women perform on what are known as “Electric … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives | Leave a comment

“If I Carry My Father,” by Marjorie Saiser

A poet considers how the best parts of her father might live on through her being
Posted on July 19, 2021 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

I hope it is a little more than color of hair or the dimple or cheekbones if he’s ever here in the space I inhabit the room I walk in the boundaries and peripheries I hope it’s some kindness he … Continue reading →

Posted in The Next Chapter | Leave a comment

Alzheimer’s Research on Mice is Often Misleading

Reports of advances in Alzheimer’s research often fail to indicate that it was conducted on mice, not humans
Posted on July 5, 2021 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Scrolling through the headlines, it’s easy to come away with the impression that there are major breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research happening near-daily. Yet as a recent paper in PLOS Biology points out, such headlines are often misleading. Much of this … Continue reading →

Posted in Science of Us | Leave a comment

DIY Body Transport by Vehicle: What You Can (and Can’t) Do

Jim Bates of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of North Texas explains the ins and outs — and occasional mishaps — that come with moving dead bodies
Posted on June 23, 2021 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

  Six years ago, Jim Bates and his brother drove their father’s body 355 miles from Arlington, Texas, to Tulia, Texas, where he was from, to bury him alongside his wife. As director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of North … Continue reading →

Posted in Professional Advice | 6 Comments

Colorado Makes Human Composting Legal

Following Washington, Colorado has become the second U.S. state to permit composting of human remains
Posted on June 19, 2021 by Rachel Jones (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

In May, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill that will allow people to compost their loved ones’ remains rather than burying or cremating them. The law will take effect in the coming months, while funeral homes will likely need … Continue reading →

Posted in Something Special | Leave a comment