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“Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives“
This enticing book of vignettes imagines various types of afterlivesWhen I was little, I used to imagine the afterlife as a heaven with a grandfatherly God in long, flowing robes, sitting on a shiny golden throne atop a bunch of fluffy clouds. David Eagleman’s Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives provides a vast array of possible afterlives for a more mature audience that will…
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Candles Used in Both Death and Dying
The significance of candles plays a role in end-of-life rituals around the worldThe first known use of a candle dates to China in 206 BC. Thus, it’s no wonder that candles in the home have retained a strong role in both cultural and religious observances for those who are dying or who have died. The Catholics use “Blessed Candles” as a sacred, one-time ritual; each Jewish home lights…
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Darth Vader Leads a Grandmother’s Funeral
A woman in Luton took her love for Halloween to the graveLorna Johnson’s funeral was a scene straight out of a movie. Literally. The 56-year-old’s memorial was attended by witches, Beetlejuice, the Tasmanian Devil and Darth Vader. The latter Star Wars character even led the funeral procession, which included an extravagant hearse, on a slow march to the crematorium in Luton. Johnson died last month after…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates the most beautiful hearts in an ongoing celebration of loveMy Love Is All Curled Up Around You! 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…
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The Woodland Cemetery & Crematorium
How Swedish architect John Celsing contributed to the design of one of the most influential cemeteries in the worldCreating a crematorium for a landmark Unesco World Heritage Site cemetery is no small task, but Swedish architect Johan Celsing went above and beyond expectations. Indeed, his 2013 addition of a new crematorium to Stockholm’s architecturally famous Woodland Cemetery has kept with the spirit of the site’s inspiration, while continuing to make us wonder: how…
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Our Weekly Tip: A Craft for a Grieving Child or Teen
Talking to a child about coping with death can be tough; here’s a craft to make it easierOur Tip of the Week: Remember making “Chinese fortune tellers” as a kid? Those little origami squares that, once unfolded, were supposed to reveal everything from your innermost thoughts to your unfathomable “grown up job”? We used to call them “cootie catchers.” Each flap that you chose to unfold or “flip,” for whatever reason, led…
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“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl“
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s film, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, reveals beauty through the death of a teenIt is not surprising that Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, an award winning coming-of-age film centered on a teen dying of terminal illness, got a standing ovation at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. The story follows awkward, insecure Greg, who has drifted through three years of high school without making enemies or friends.…
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