Urngarden.com | Cremation Urn Discussion

Spirit Animals: The Horse, Regal and Free Spirited

April 7, 2014 urngarden.com

We’ve been doing a series on spirit animals and exploring the characteristics of various totems. For families that are shopping for a cremation urn that captures the life force of their loved one, consider the horse.

A customer who ordered this urn wanted a vessel that looked good in the home and would preserve a small amount of the ashes of her father. She had several Jewish friends that often visited and she preferred something that didn’t scream urn. The horse style was exactly what she was looking for.

Horses are the one symbol or totem that will carry a person through life. Horses show strong motivation, passion, personal drive and the quest for freedom. Besides being regal and fierce in competition, horses can also be graceful and confident. Your connection to horses is an amazing gift. They bring the ideals of elegance and presence and offer the energies of endurance and freedom.

Horses were very common in Greek mythology where they captured readers’ imaginations and brought to life the many heroes they protected. Popular horses in Greek mythology include Pegasus, the unicorn, Hippogriff, Kelpies, Widow Maker and Sleipnir. In Chinese mythology, horses were related to dragons, but still were examples of power and virtue. They are true symbols of free spirits and intelligence.

The Dark Side
Horse spirit animals do have a bit of a dark side, though. For instance, if your horse totem is tied up or locked in a stable where it cannot move easily, you are more than likely to have limitations placed on your own life. You may be prevented from being free because of all the added responsibilities you have taken on.

Dreaming of Horses
As a symbol of sexuality, according to Sigmund Freud, horses can appear very vividly in one’s dreams. Depending on the dream, horses can symbolize flourishing or repressed sexual energy. Dreaming of black horses could represent a part of yourself or personality that you want to keep hidden. White horses are associated with elevated moods and spiritual aspirations. If you see a horseshoe in one of your dreams, know that those are considered lucky charms in many cultures. Talking horses can mean that your unconscious may be trying to send you a message.

Need help finding your spirit animal? Take this quiz. Need help finding the perfect memorial for your loved one? We can help.

How NOT to Scatter Ashes

April 1, 2014 urngarden.com

In 2013, a plastic bag with human ashes washed up on a South Florida shoreline. The unidentified remains were presumably scattered at sea but were disposed of in a fashion not normally associated with burial at sea. Instead, the non-biodegradable plastic bag in which they were stored kept the cremains in tact instead of being dispersed. Unfortunately, this seems to happen more often than not when families take it upon themselves to scatter their loved one’s ashes without proper instruction from a funeral director or crematory operator.

Why Water Burial?
Scattering a loved one’s ashes is becoming more commonplace in today’s society as families dismiss the concept that ground burial is the only option to consider when a person dies. As long as it’s allowed by federal, state and local laws, you can scatter your loved one’s remains in a variety of venues including a garden, under a favorite tree or shrub or even over his or her favorite ball field.

Scattering ashes over water is also quite typical these days. Water enthusiasts may prefer to have the cremains dispersed in the ocean or nearby lake. While this may be a simple way to scatter the ashes, many who do this believe the concept that life began in the sea so it’s best to return that life back. This is not only a humbling way to pay tribute to a deceased friend or family member, but it is also an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional ground burials.

A much less expensive option, ash scattering over water is usually held after the funeral or memorial service and is typically attended by immediate friends and family members, a clergy member and the vessel captain. Remaining friends and family can opt to view the scattering ceremony from the shore.

A classic example of how NOT to scatter ashes can be found in what we will refer to as the Lebowski method:

Biodegradable Scattering or Water Urns
If you are considering scattering or burying your loved one’s ashes in water, there are two types of cremation urns that should be used. You want a container that is easy to open when you are getting ready to scatter the ashes or an urn that is biodegradable should you decide to place the cremated remains in the water.

urn for scattering ashes over water — Journey Sea Burial Urn

These types urns typically float for a brief period time and will sink gracefully. They come in a variety of styles from tubes and sea shells to Grecian urns and balls of sand. Because they are biodegradable, they are typically made from recycled paper, sand, gelatin and rock salt.

Federal Rules and Regulations for Scattering Cremated Ashes
The Environmental Protection Agency oversees the federal rules on disposing of cremated remains. Individual states have their own regulations but often use the EPA rules as guidelines.

Under the EPA’s Clean Water Act, the ashes must be scattered at least three nautical miles from land and can only be done by boat or air. If you are using a non-biodegradable container, it must be disposed of separately and not placed in the water at all. Cremated remains are not allowed to be scattered at beaches or wading pools by water. Inland water burials require the applicable state permits.

All water burials must be reported in writing to the EPA within 30 days. Decomposable wreaths and flowers may be placed in the water at the time of ceremony.

Need help or have questions? We’re here to help.

Cremation Urns for Here and Now or in the Future

March 29, 2014 urngarden.com

We subscribe to the notion of staying in the moment, however, we’re seeing more folks thinking ahead and making plans for their final flight. Out of this world. They making difficult purchases, not your favorite thing to shop for while you are still living…cremation urns. Most are in their 70s, usually women. The men call after their wives die.

We recently spoke to a younger lady who was taking care of her fathers arrangements. Years ago he purchased a pre-planned cremation package at the funeral home. Turns out that when the time came to close the deal, the urn was unavailable. Funeral director didn’t have it and the manufacturer out of business. She was hot and on a hunt.

Others, we were able to help. Wanda in Washington, has terminal cancer but still having fun with life. She was drawn to the artistry of crystal and had a hard time deciding between the cobalt blue or the sparkling amethyst.

I felt a connection to this lady, as she had discovered family ties to my community in her genealogy project. I learned a lot talking with her.

She bought space high on a wall at the columbarium in her area, that she referred to as a “drawer”. The bronze plaque that will identify her space will say “Come up and see me some time “!

Another lady started out looking for Egyptian styles and got sidetracked by the pretty pink rose urn. She took the round about way, but was delighted to discover that it was made in America.

Just outside of Las Vegas, a customer knew as soon as she saw the Infinity Angel cremation urn.

She was drawn to the angel because she felt that the world was a dangerous place and she had encountered a real angel across the street. Her neighbor, Angel. a 30 something cancer survivor that knew how to do anything. This customer was going through many life changes with her husband’s recent death. Her 50 year old son was moving home and she was looking forward to that.

Men who are recently widowed seem to gravitate to sturdier materials like wood or marble. Wood is probably more popular and people are always pleasantly surprised by the Love Bird companion urn, because it’s even better than pictured. The workmanship is excellent.

Love bird urn for two people

Her Husband Thought She Was Crazy

And finally, we had a prospect that was looking for an urn that was over sized. Just her ashes would be in it, but she wanted room to pack supplies for the journey to the after life. Assorted sundries like corn meal, sugar, jewels, etc. She liked the pottery styles, especially American Indian style with carved feather designs.

This pottery is made by Ozarks natives and so beautiful. Whether you are dealing with life’s challenges here and now or planning for the future, we can help.

Deer Cremation Urns-Magical and Creative

March 24, 2014 urngarden.com

When we chose the deer as inspiration for a cremation urn, we were thinking of the magical qualities of this animal. This style is a favorite with families that are honoring a hunter or outdoors man and is definitely a statement piece that takes a few weeks to produce.

Crafted in bronze, it’s more expensive than many of the traditional vase shaped urns and is made in the USA. The beauty of this style is that it’s a bronze memorial that can be displayed in the home as a piece of sculpture, safely stores the ashes of your loved one, but does not SCREAM urn.

Most commercial representations of deer characterize them as gentle and sensitive creatures. Deer spirit animals are no different. By leaning on this animal, you will assume the power to deal with challenges with grace and dignity. Deer totem wisdom gives humans the ability to be vigilant, instinctive and to move quickly.

Deer Symbolism
Deer represent a variety of characteristics from soft and gentle to strong and determined. Others include:

Ability to move through life and its challenges and obstacles with grace and gentleness
    Getting in touch with one’s inner child and innocence
    Being intuitive and sensitive
    Being vigilant

Deer totem allows people to bring grace into all aspects of their lives including during life’s most challenging moments. The spirit will remind you to remain calm and graceful during hard times, qualities brought forth from the heart. A deer’s horns are great for defending and asserting one’s self, but being gentle doesn’t mean you are defenseless. With a deer’s powerful spirit on your side, you can be strong and determined yet graceful simultaneously.

Deer in Mythology and Culture
In Celtic mythology, deer are magical and creative creatures that are able to move gracefully between worlds. St. Patrick, for instance, and his companions were said to be transformed into deer to escape a trap by a pagan king. In Greek mythology, a deer is associated with Artemis, a virginal huntress. She transformed Actaeon into a stag after he witnessed her unclothed body.

The Native American Pawnee believed the deer was the guide to the light of the Sun. Early Christians said deer would spit water into a hole or crevice where a poisonous snake was hiding, drawing it out and then killing it with its hooves. Finally, in ancient China and Cambodia, the stag was also associated with the sun, but negatively as it was thought to bring a drought.

Turtle Cremation Urns Are Protection for the Journey

March 18, 2014 urngarden.com

As learned in the children’s tale, “The Tortoise and the Hare,” sure and steady typically win the race. Those who can relate to turtles can fully understand this message as turtles symbolize patience and endless wisdom. Their ancient souls have learned the art of adapting to new surroundings and environments, whether on land or in water. In the spirit world, turtles bring the gifts of longevity, fertility, blessings and journeys while carrying the energies of patience, protection and self-pacing. Based on those qualities we were inspired by the symbol of the turtle to create an urn from bronze. Made in here in America, bronze will last forever and be a lasting tribute to your loved one.

As one of the oldest reptiles living, turtles remind people to slow down. Life is a journey, so sit back and enjoy it! But people can also learn to ground themselves in the protective energy that is the earth and follow those energies at a pace to ensure success.

Great Protectors
Turtles understand the need for self-protection as well as protecting those they love. Their hard shells are comparable to a spiritual shell or armor you can have to protect yourself from negativity, painful memories and harmful influences. This symbol has been adapted on a smaller scale to use as a personal mini memorial with our turtle urn pendant in your choice of silver or gold. The pendant has an opening on the back and that’s where it is filled with the ashes.

The inner wisdom of turtles’ spirits comes from being allowed to go inside and find peace and safety. Often thought to be the wisest of souls in the animal kingdom, turtles understand and take their wisdom one day at a time. They move at their own pace, not worrying or carrying what others think.

Turtle Symbolism
Turtles are long-lived and have carefree attitude, but their bodies are very symbolic. The shell represents the heavens, its body the earth and its under-body symbolizes the underworld. A turtle’s symbolism differs depending on country of origin. Hindus see turtles as lunar creatures, while in China, they are symbols of strength. In Japan, turtles are gods of the seas and in West Africa, they are symbols of fertility and feminine.