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
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Our Annual Seven Holiday Gifts for Someone Who Is Grieving, 2024 Edition:
Gracious gifts that spread love and beauty -
“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
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Categories
Tag Archives: Shiva
Hindu Cremations at Nepal’s Pashupatinath Temple
Family members complete nearly two weeks of traditional Hindu mourning rituals
Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal is one of the region’s most significant Hindu pilgrimage destinations. Located on the banks of the sacred Bagmati river, the sprawling temple complex includes hundreds of Shiva “lingams,” or symbols representing Lord Shiva, and overflows … Continue reading
Posted in Cultural Perspectives
Tagged Bagmati river, Cremation, Hindu Funeral Rites, Hindu mourning rituals, Kriyaputri Bhawan, Nepal, Pashupatinath, Reincarnation, Shiva, Surrogate mourners
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Which Jewish Funeral Traditions Help People Overcome a Fear of Death?
An interview with Rabbi Me'irah, Part Two
Today, SevenPonds speaks with Rabbi Me’irah, a San Francisco-based rabbi and visual artist. After earning a master’s degree in social work from Portland State University, Rabbi Me’irah spent 15 years in the field. Along the way, she reconnected with her spirituality and … Continue reading
Death at a Funeral: The Now-Extinct Indian Custom of Sati
Indian widows threw themselves into their husband's pyres during this outlawed tradition
It’s not uncommon to find strict cultural rules that tell women exactly how to behave after a husband’s death. In some societies, women are expected to wear all black, cover the mirrors in their homes or even stay indoors for … Continue reading
Posted in Cultural Perspectives
Tagged Cremation, Hindu, India, Indian Burial Traditions, Indian death rituals, outlawed death rituals, Parvati, pyre, Sati, Scythians, Shiva, Suicide, Widows
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The Jewish Mourning Tradition of Shiva
An exploration into the meaning and rituals of Shiva
When a practicing member of Judaism dies, the first stage of the mourning traditions is Shiva. The word “Shiva” means seven and originates from the beginning of the Torah, when Joseph mourned the loss of his father Jacob for seven … Continue reading
How Can We Plan A Memorial Service? An Interview with Rabbi Sara Shendelman
Rabbi Sara Shendelman discusses the services she offers for people planning a memorial service for a loved one
Today, SevenPonds speaks with Rabbi Sara Shendelman, a rabbi and cantor as well as a former ordained minister. Currently based in Berkeley, California, she officiates all types of weddings and conducts memorial services, both interfaith and Jewish, for individual families. … Continue reading