WELCOME TO OUR BLOG
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
-
Funeral Home Owner Chris Johnson Spending Halloween in Jail: More than a dozen bodies found decomposing at his Georgia funeral home -
Our Monthly Tip: Toast a Loved One with a Personalized Glass: Etching the glassware adds a touch of class to any memorial gathering keepsake -
My Cousin’s Death Taught Me the Meaning of Life: A lesson in existentialism and mortality
-
Categories
Tag Archives: Death Ritual
“From Here To Eternity: Traveling The World In Search Of The Good Death,” by Caitlin Doughty
Author Caitlin Doughty traveled the world to see how other cultures care for their loved ones who have died
“From Here To Eternity” by Caitlin Doughty is a fascinating look at funerary practices from around the world. Doughty, herself a funeral home owner, was inspired to witness how death is dealt with in other cultures. She wanted to show … Continue reading
Performance Artist Uses Power of Ritual to Move Collective Grief
Rebecca Belmore's performance "Vigil" highlights authentic expression and the power of witnessing
We all have different ideas that spring to mind when we hear the word “ritual.” Some of us immediately see in the mind’s eye the titillating Hollywood version, with dim candle-lit rooms and voices rhythmically reciting words in a language … Continue reading
Chanting Akal as a Soul Passage Rite
In the Sikh tradition, the mantra Akal is often chanted after death to help the soul achieve union with universal consciousness
In the Sikh tradition and in the larger global yogic community, the Gurbani mantra Akal is often chanted as someone’s body finishes the dying process, as well as for 17 days following physical death. Akal means “deathless” or “undying,” and … Continue reading
Posted in Cultural Perspectives
Tagged Death Ritual, Mantra, Rite of Passage, Ritual, Sikh
2 Comments
Famadihana Death Ritual in Madagascar
Madagascar's Malagasy people connect and celebrate with their ancestors long after death.
The Malagasy people of Madagascar believe that the spirits of people who have died won’t join the world of their ancestors until after the body has completely decomposed. To assist the process, families perform a funerary tradition called Famadihana, “the … Continue reading
Posted in Cultural Perspectives
Tagged Cultural Perspectives, Death, Death Ritual, Famadihana, Madagascar, Malagasy people
3 Comments
