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Welcome to the SevenPonds.com blog – a community-driven extension of SevenPonds.com! I hope you find comfort and community in the resources and stories featured here. I’m always happy to hear from readers and can be reached at suzette@sevenponds.com.
FEATURED
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Final Messages of the Dying: Finding meaning in metaphors and symbolic language -
Will I Die in Pain?: For patients living with a terminal illness, the fear of pain is very real -
When A Child Has A Terminal Illness: Reflections on a short, full life, part two
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Categories
Tag Archives: Cultural Perspectives
The Teaching of The Ancient Yew Tree
How this tree has come to symbolize death in pagan cultures
The Yew tree is a species of evergreen conifer native to western, central, and southern Europe, northern Iran, southwest Asia and northwest Africa. Because of their toxic leaves and berries, yews were a symbol of death and rebirth in pre-Christian pagan … Continue reading
After the Psyche Escapes
A look at burial customs in Ancient Greece
Ancient Greeks believed that at the moment of death, the psyche, or human spirit, left the body with the final exhalation. With this last little breath, the soul separated from the body, but lived on, unencumbered by its mortal form. In Plato’s … Continue reading
Ikipalin: The Dani Finger Amputation Ritual
The Dani of New Guinea traditionally practiced finger amputation when mourning the loss of loved one
The experience of grief is an intensely physical one; grief is often accompanied by sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, digestive disruptions and cardiac problems. There are cultural practices around the world that believe intentional physical pain is an important part … Continue reading
Memorial Diamonds for a Diamond Burial
Swiss company Algordanza will turn cremation ashes into man-made diamonds
A company in Switzerland has given new meaning to the sentiment that we carry the dead with us. Algordanza makes carrying your dead with you literally a possibility with their “memorial diamonds.” The Swiss company will compress your loved one’s … Continue reading
The Turning of the Bones in Madagascar
A look at famadihana, a joyous celebration of life and death in Madagascar
In Madagascar, the Malagasy people engage in a unique and beautiful tradition called “famadihana.” This translates to “the turning of the bones,” and it is a ritual steeped in history and joy. During “famadihana,” which occurs every two to seven years, the … Continue reading
Traditional Romanian Death Customs and Superstitions
A look into traditional Romanian beliefs about death
In Romania, the customs and superstitions surrounding death stem from a blend of beliefs with preserved, pre-Christian elements as well as more current and predominantly Orthodox Christian beliefs. The Romanians have many superstitions about when the looming arrival of death … Continue reading
