-
Telling the Bees: A Medieval Funeral Tradition
A funeral tradition that reflects the central importance of bees in daily life and worldviewBees were highly prized in Medieval Europe for their honey and wax. The honey was used as a sweetener and medicine, as well as the key ingredient in mead — a mildly alcoholic drink that was consumed for its nutritive and restorative properties. Beeswax provided the cleanest-burning source of light at the time, which was…
/
-
In the Age of the Internet, More Celebrities Are Living Out Illnesses In Secret
What the deaths of David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Jackie Collins teach us about modern celebrityIn 2016, it’s hard to imagine anyone keeping a secret for long, let alone a big one like a cancer diagnosis. Nearly everyone is on social media, posting about everything from a job they just snagged to trivial details about their lives, such as what they had for breakfast this morning. In the age of…
/
-
Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates the most beautiful hearts in an ongoing celebration of loveRemembering Our Nest of Love on These Cold Days It’s an honor for SevenPonds to share with our readers the story of the Monday Hearts for Madalene project, a true account of the power of love in the midst of death. The project’s origins take us to 2005: the moment Page Hodel encountered Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly…
/
-
When Your Dying Loved One Refuses Food
It’s not easy watching your loved one lose weight due to the loss of appetite that accompanies advancing disease. This is one of the most emotionally charged issues with terminal illness, so it’s important to understand how the body changes over time. Just 4 more bites of applesauce…please. You have to eat something! Sometimes the…
/
-
Grief Point: Dancing in the Abyss
Evocative contemporary dance piece expresses the confusion of grief“Grief Point,” an award-winning solo contemporary dance choreographed by Sidra Bell and performed by Moo Kim, invites viewers into a universal aspect of grief that is often considered a private experience in the Western world. “Grief Point” is based on Loscil’s ambient stream-of-consciousness song “The Making of Grief Point,” and evokes the listless, isolated and monochromatic…
/
-
Can A Handmade Softie Toy Be Of Therapeutic Benefit During The Grieving Process? (Interview)
How one artist used a sewing machine and ingenuity to bring children’s drawings to lifeToday is an interview with Wendy Tsao, the artist who founded the home-based business Child’s Own Studio in 2007. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Child’s Own Studio was born when Wendy decided to make a softie toy based on a sketch drawn by her then 4 year-old son, Luca. Throughout her years of running the business,…
/
-
Our Weekly Tip: Toss Valentine’s Day Remembrance Kisses and Hugs
Let guests join in the scattering of ashes at a V-Day memorial serviceOur Tip of the Week: Valentine’s Day, the international day of love, can be a perfect time of year for a memorial service. It’s the day we’re accustomed to expressing our deepest love with words, flowers and gestures, and will be a memorial celebration forever in everyone’s heart. Consider gathering family and friends to join in the scattering of…
/
-
“The Ultimate Journey”
A psychedelics-inspired exploration of cross-cultural perspectives on death and the afterlife offers insight into human consciousness in this bookWhat do psychedelic substances, rights of passage and fear of death have in common? A lot, according to Stanislav Grof, M.D. Grof is the author of “The Ultimate Journey: Consciousness and the Mystery of Death.” He has served as Chief of Psychiatric Research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins…
/
Want an Easier Way to Plan a Memorial Event? Get our FREE guide
“7 Ways to Create an Amazing Celebration of Life”
