As long as “you’re willing to be a flower or a tree.” Joan Graham, a land owner in Michigan is doing just that. She says about her own natural burial under an oak, “Wouldn’t it be nice if that oak tree would ever reach my remains, and the tree would take nourishment from that? And it’s kind of like I never died, really. I just morphed into a tree or something.”

Photo by David Baron, NPR

You might have heard Joan’s story on NPR today. She is conserving her land by bequeathing it to a local land trust. A condition of the deal is her own natural burial there. You can either read or hear the entire story here. I loved hearing it today and had to write this entry pronto! It inspires me deeply while serving memorial clients at Sweetgrass.

What a trailblazer Joan is, along with the head of the Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy! It sounds like they are still searching for a partner to make a green burial grounds on the farm public, rather than private. I sincerely hope the right enlightened folks intersect with Joan’s cause.

This resonates so deeply with me because of my love of the land, background in conservation planning and profoundly meaningful experience with natural burial. I have complete faith that the renaissance of green burial will indeed help more and more people create sacred ground throughout North America and the world.

Kristine

Do you have any songs that positively transport you? For example, when I hear Aspenglow by John Denver, I am in my childhood home for winter holidays. I close my eyes and can smell candy-cane cookies baking plus see the snow falling outside. This occurs regardless of where I am in the world and what the weather looks like. Why does a simple song have this timeless power?

When I work with clients to weave together meaningful ceremonies, I see a few reasons why. Nostalgically, music may connect us to uplifting sensory experiences in our life stories: sights, sounds, smells, and tactile sensations like brisk winter air. Emotionally, music may help our bodies release mood enhancing endorphins and experience a natural high. Physiologically, certain rhythms have the ability to lower our heart rates and feel more peaceful.

For me as a Celebrant, music is an essential part of creating a meaningful space and time during ceremonies, because of its power to transport.  Music speaks to us on many levels. (I love the mystery of how many levels!) Like spiritual beliefs, music preferences are so personal.  I do see how a single song or whole symphony calls people to a certain place and a certain time in their lives.  The catalyst may plainly be lyrics or the way the music feels.

In any case, while I work and enjoy this sunny desert day, I’m listening to my old Rocky Mountain Christmas album, imagining snowflakes drifting out of the sky.

With love,

Kristine

Alright. Wow. Can you even believe that we have entered December already? If you are sensing time clicking by all too rapidly, would you like to slow down a bit?  Maybe enjoy something a little different this month? If so, consider crafting a simple Winter Solstice celebration. You have plenty of time to gather ideas.  Solstice falls upon Monday, December 21st this year.

It may be an enjoyable observance to hold alone, with friends, family or a big circle of folks. I help members of my community celebrate the turning of the seasons by co-creating equinox and solstice ceremonies. Winter – with it’s potential quietude, qualities of inner light and promise ahead – is one of my most savored turnings. I like how this excerpt from my We’Moon calendar inspires me for our celebration this year:

“Like the dark of the Moon each month, Winter Solstice represents not only the pitch black of night, but also a seed of something that will unfold in the coming year. . . light a single candle and celebrate that in this month of ultimate darkness, the light – as always – is born again.” ~ Vicki Noble

Candles hand-crafted for a Winter Solstice celebration.

The inner light we carry through those long winter nights is easily symbolized with candles. A couple of years ago for our community Winter Solstice celebration, we made these candles out of re-used jars, colorful tissue paper and glue mixed with water. So simple!

We had a blast and made a complete mess while crafting them. For the crisp evening ceremony, we dangled the candles from short tree branches (they are too hot to have hands directly holding them.) We each lit our candle, named our intentions for the light we held within, then walked our stone labyrinth by candle light with intentions in mind. What a beautiful sight for everyone to absorb. (To me it looked like big, glorious, colorful fireflies magically appeared in winter to try out our labyrinth!)

An article I read yesterday in Chicago’s hip new publication Mindful Metropolis triggered me to write this post. In it you’ll find creative ways to celebrate Winter Solstice that are fun and family friendly, too. Please share any ideas you have for observing solstice here. I always welcome your stories!

Cheers to how delicious it can feel to slow down and hold a simple observance!

With love and warmth,

Kristine