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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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“Making Mobiles” by Karolina Merska:
An artist’s manual on how to create beautiful Polish pajaki -
“Hands Up to the Sky” by Michael Franti & Spearhead:
A surprisingly upbeat song about acknowledging both loss and the beauty of life -
Coping With Election Grief:
While half of Americans are celebrating, the other half are in mourning
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Categories
Tag Archives: Japanese Death and Burial Traditions
“Departures” by Yōjirō Takita
This Japanese film explores the taboo of working intimately with death
In “Departures,” Yōjirō Takita points out the absurdity of a culture that holds onto rich death rituals while condemning those who perform them. The emotional, sometimes downright hilarious, movie explores why we need death traditions and shines light on a practice that … Continue reading
Japanese Funeral Superstitions Surrounding Death and the Number Four
Why this number sparks fear in Japan
Superstitions about numbers are nothing new. Look at Western culture’s obsession with the unlucky number thirteen to understand how pervasive number superstitions can be. Many people in Japan would think nothing of hopping into an elevator to get to the … Continue reading
Honoring Ancestors in the Buddhist Culture: Japan’s Obon Festival
An annual Japanese Buddhist festival that honors the spirits of beloved family members who have died
Every year, Buddhists in Japan celebrate the custom of the Obon (or Bon) festival as a way to honor the spirits of beloved family members who have died. This Buddhist custom has influences from Confucianism as well. So how do … Continue reading