Butterfly Cremation Urns Represent Hope Freedom and Change

May 5, 2014 urngarden.com

We’ve added several new styles to our collection of butterfly cremation urns. This first one is so colorful, with yellow and blue butterflies and bright spring flowers.

Ruby Butterfly is a dark vase shape contrasted with mother of pearl inlay is so pretty and would work for male or female. Super lustrous shine and deep rich ruby color combine to create a beautiful memorial. It’s even prettier than pictured.

Crystal Blue Butterfly cremation urn is would work for either a man or woman with slate cool blue butterfly accents on a clean white surface. This style comes in both large and small sizes and is on sale right now.

And if you just want a small remembrance then cremation jewelry might be the way to go.

As one of the most majestic and emblematic totem animals, the butterfly is the perfect symbol of personal transformation. If you connect with a butterfly, take a look at parts of your life or personality that need a change. You can continue to grow and expand your life with the spirit of the butterfly by your side. It’s all about being able to go through important life changes with lightness and grace.

Understanding Your Destiny
Butterflies can guide humans on journeys of freedom to becoming better people. They can help you release your fears so you can begin experiencing and knowing your true spirit self and find out what your destiny holds for you. A true believer in transformation, a butterfly totem gives you the power to make choices about your life, your path and your way of being.

Just like a caterpillar entering its cocoon, humans look to their inner selves to embrace the rapture of transcendence and compete rebirth. The caterpillar surrendered and is ready. It trusts in something larger and greater. When the butterfly spirit animal is born, its new life will be filled with wonder, joy and a whole new way of living.

Butterflies and Culture
Many cultures believe the butterfly is associated with the soul. In Greek mythology, Psyche (which means soul) is represented by a butterfly. Christianity also considers the butterfly a symbol for the soul and resurrection and is depicted on many Christian tombs. In modern culture, the “butterfly effect” refers to minor changes that cause large changes.

Butterflies represent hope, freedom and change. When you are always seeing butterflies wherever you go, consider that a sign of letting go of what you are feeling and spreading your wings. It can also mean that have already freed yourself and your spirit is praising you.

This is just a small sampling of our butterfly urns and jewelry. Need help finding the perfect butterfly memorial urn? We can help.

Perfect Small Memorial, Owl Keepsake Urn

April 28, 2014 urngarden.com

Sometimes clients are confused by the different sizes of urns that are available in the marketplace. Most are familiar with the traditional vase shapes and boxes that hold human ashes.

Small Unique Urns

But now you can get small unique pieces that are perfect for a small memorial. Families are getting more creative when selecting an urn and sometimes want to create a keepsake memento and don’t need a large full size container. As we continue our series exploring our spirit animal cremation urn collection, consider an owl keepsake urn.

Owls have a keen sense of intuition, and those who foster these animals have a deep connection to wisdom and knowledge. If you have an owl as your animal totem, you more than likely can see what most others can’t. You can see true reality instead of illusions and deceit. Owls also offer inspiration and personal guidance to help you explore the magic of life.

Owls represent several ideals including the capacity of see beyond deception and dishonesty. More so, their spirit traditionally is the announcer or messenger of death as well as simply a life transition or change.

The Power of Darkness and the Unknown
Because owls can see in the dark, they can guide you to see beyond what is in front of you. This ability also helps them see and understand the true meaning of another person’s state of mind or actions.

small owl urn — Small Jeweled Owl Keepsake Urn for Ashes

If an owl becomes part of your life, take a look around you and see what’s changed. An owl’s spirit can help you uncover your hidden talents and potential. The evening hours are best for delving into creativity and energy.

Blue Owl adult cremation urn for ashes — Owl Adult Cremation Urn

Owls in Greek and Roman Mythology
The Goddess Athena kept an owl at her side to represent her wisdom. Other types of owls and their symbolic meanings include:

Hoot owl: Moon magic and warnings
Burrowing owl: Grounding and earth magic
Snowy owl: Secrets and foretelling
Screech owl: Watch your path carefully
Barn owl: Holding secrets and valuable items in a secret or private place

In the early days of Rome, a dead owl nailed to the door of a house helped fend off evil that earlier caused havoc in that home. A hoot of an owl forewarned of an imminent death. The deaths of Agrippa, Agustus, Commodus Aurelius and Julius Caesar were supposedly predicted by an owl.

Need assistance finding the perfect memorial? We can help.

Cats in Culture and Cremation Urns

April 21, 2014 urngarden.com

Our series on spirit animals continues with the revered cat. Occasionally, we get requests for a cat themed urns for humans. It’s not the crazy cat lady that they are shopping for, often, it’s for the love of cats and reflecting the feline personality. Egyptian styles are popular, like this one inspired by the ancient canopic jars found in ancient tombs. This style is too small to hold all of the ashes for an adult and typically is used for pets.

Since ancient times, people have sought visions from Mother Earth’s animals. Many have received signs and messages from the various species of cats, which tell us to that we need to develop a balance between independence and time of togetherness. A cat’s totem spirit tells us we should have harmonious relationships between action and observation and light and darkness.

Cat Symbolism in Urns

The cat spirit carries many messages and meanings that revolve around finding balance between opposites. Cats traditionally symbolize:
•   Patience and waiting for the right time to act
•   The spirit of courage and adventure
•   Independence and enjoying being social with others
•   Relaxing and making a connection with one’s self
•   Healing, first the soul and then the body

Normally active at night, cats have been connected to witchcraft and dark magic arts. As a spirit animal, cats have the ability to explore places not normally seen in the dark. Start exploring areas of your life that you want to know better.

Independence, Agility and Flexibility
Cats are independent creatures by nature. They can be cute and cuddly or fiercely competitive if need be. If you foster a cat’s spirit, you will want to explore the need for freedom and independence as well as time with friends and family.

Cats are characterized by their agility and flexibility. No matter what the circumstance, they always seem to land on their feet! By honing a cat’s totem, you are encouraged to be flexible in many situations, whether in body, spirit or mind.

Cats in Culture
Cats are an ancient Celtic animal, representing the guardian of the Other world. They are stoic, silent and mysterious. In Western traditions, black cats are often associated with witchcraft and the perils of the night. However, in ancient Rome, cats were sacred to the moon goddess Diana and were considered a guardian of homes.

For Muslims, the cat is praised for saving Mohammad from being attacked by a snake. Many believe the “M” marking on a tabby cat is the sign from the prophet Mohammad. Ancient Egyptians felt that their cats were sacred and were portrayed on the forehead of Bastet, their lunar goddess.

Hummingbird Urn for Ashes, Zest for Life and Love of Peace

April 15, 2014 urngarden.com

Cremation Urns with the image of the hummingbird have been popular with our families for years. Often the buyer will tell us that their loved one adored hummingbirds and was often out in the yard or garden enjoying nature and kept feeders full to attract the little birds.

Urns featuring the symbol of the hummingbirds come in a variety of materials ranging from metal to ceramic and many can be personalized. This attractive style is a calm shade of blue with a beautiful image of a hummingbird in flight sipping sweet nectar.

A Few Fun Facts About the Hummingbird and What it Represents as a Spirit Animal:

Hummingbirds represent all that is enjoyable about life. Those drawn to this animal fully take in the sweetness of life and love no matter what they are doing. While small in stature, hummingbirds are capable of fascinating feats such as flying backward or flying even long distances. Those who have hummingbirds as their symbols are inspired to continue developing their adaptability to various surroundings while maintaining their positive outlook.

small hummingbird keepsake urn for ashes

There are more than 300 species of hummingbirds, and they all share many of the same characteristics including being very swift. They are the tiniest of all birds weighing less than an ounce and measuring up to four inches long. They communicate by producing a hum noise with strong wing beats.

Is the Hummingbird Your Totem?

If you feel a strong connection to the hummingbird and feel that it plays an important role in your life, then it just may be your totem. Hummingbirds pass their energy on to you, as well as their zest for life, love of peace and playful quality. The hummingbird also needs much rest so it stays refreshed.

Hummingbirds remind us to take a look at how we are using our energy and resources. Are you wasting your energy worrying about or fearing something?

Hummingbirds as a Messenger of Love and Joy

To Native Americans, hummingbirds represent endless joy and the Nectar of Life. They are also seen as messengers of jubilation and love. With their swift action, they aggressively seek out those who want and need inspiration, renewal and rejuvenation.

Hummingbird Dreams

If a hummingbird flies through your dreams, it often means that small concepts and ideas possess greater potential and power. However, it can also mean the opposite. The tiny birds can represent a person’s frivolous ideas and flighty thoughts.

Need personal service creating a memorial? We can help!

Spring Themes in Cremation Urns

April 10, 2014 urngarden.com

Spring is the season of awakening and rejuvenation. Perennials that were hidden all winter long are making their first appearance; taking in the glorious sunshine and everything else Mother Nature has to offer.

Another promising sign of Spring is the sites and sounds of birds. Cardinals, for instance, are only bring hope and cheer on cold, wintry days, but like the dogwood, reminds people to focus on their faith. A cardinal’s scarlet plumage symbolizes the blood Christ shed as he died on the cross. A cardinal in a dogwood tree is a popular image, and our Cardinal and Dogwood Flower Urn has this exact picture. Not only is the cardinal a favorite mascot here in Missouri (St. Louis Cardinals), it’s the most popular state bird and represents seven states in the USA.

Listening to birds sing on a warm spring morning is another way of feeling not only rejuvenated but comforted as well. If you are hurting, the sounds of a bird’s tweet can be quite healing as well as help feed one’s brain with energy.

Dogwood trees and accompanying blossoms are a fine representation of this season, which is also closely associated with Easter. While the Bible does not mention dogwoods by name, they are tied to Jesus’ crucifixion, as this type of tree was said to have been used to make His cross. But from that day forward, God commanded that this once grandeur tree would never grow tall again, but always be twisted and short and never used for this purpose.

Its clustered fruit blossoms resemble Jesus’ crown of thorns and are said to be formed in the shape of a cross with two short and two long petals. Each petal’s outer edge are “nail prints” that are brown with rust and stained with blood. Everyone who sees this blossom is supposed to remember why Jesus died on the cross. Dogwoods are native from Eastern United States to North-Central Florida and is the state flower for North Carolina and Virginia.

Our goal at Urn Garden is to provide families with comforting memorial choices that are not only easy on the eye, but the pocket book as well. Feel free to call us if you have an idea or question about creating something personal that will reflect the spirit of your loved one.

Image credits: Dogwood: bosela