The Diverse Ways to Honor and Preserve Cremation Ashes

1. Introduction to Cremation Ashes

Just as family choices for end-of-life celebration are diverse, perspectives about what to do with ashes left after cremation are equally wide-ranging. Some feel that cherished remains should be spread in a favorite place, while others would never think of it. There are those who choose to scatter ashes at a loved one's place of work, while others look to take some of the ashes to distribute among family in different corners of the world. For many families, ashes aren't merely cremation remains, but rather a tangible connection. Emotional ties to these remains make permanent placement or scattering an important act of memorialization. Bringing about closure after the death of a loved one is a significant factor in the grief process. A sense of finality is found in the actions related to the final physical care of a loved one; deciding what to do with the cremated remains does just that.

In recent years, cremation has become the end-of-life choice for approximately 50% of Americans. Projections indicate that this option will be chosen for 70% by 2040. There are many factors leading to this growth, including changes in religion, concerns about environmental impact, options for transportation, and the changing views of the body in Western culture. With such a significant shift in thinking and behavior, it is amazing to observe the cultural and individual practices for what to do with the ashes left after cremation. For some, this task is simple and requires only a respectful disposition as a matter of routine. Let the funeral provider handle it and move on to tasks that require more energy. For others, this is an important event requiring time and emotional energy, along with a sense of purpose and meaning.

1.1. The Cremation Process and Ashes Formation

The cremation process consists of several stages starting with the paperwork necessary to obtain the authorization. The deceased is then cleaned and prepared for the cremation bed. During actual cremation, an alternative fuel borders the body to allow for efficient combustion. Crematory temperatures can range from 1400 to 1800°F, sometimes reaching as high as 2000°F for morbidly obese individuals. The oven’s burners are ignited to the highest setting to incinerate the body. The body first dries and then burns for 75 to 90 minutes at the above temperatures. The ashes are residual calcium and other materials. The degree of brightness indicates the temperature, the length of time, and even other factors that play into the composition of the ashes and their brightness. The body is exposed to heat ranging from 1400 to 1800°F for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Before or following the actual cremation, the body is enclosed in a container suitable for burning. This includes a casket, a cardboard box, and a unique container or even a cloth shroud. The type of container is selected based on the needs and requests of the deceased’s family and the specific requirements of the crematory. The container burns away, with the only non-combustible material being the ashes of the deceased. The cremated remains consist of roughly 85% mineral salts with 15% carbon and calcium. Ash color falls within a light plush gray to a dark brown, with particle shape differing according to the individual. The mercury vapor pressure during the cremation can also influence the ash color. Lastly, the ashes should be labeled with an identification number. Several things may influence the color and texture of the ashes, such as the individual’s calcium concentration at the time of the cremation.

2. Traditional and Modern Practices

The spreading of cremation ashes (also known as "scattering cremated remains," "final disposition," or simply "ashes") is a deeply personal event. Attitudes and customs vary widely between families, regions, and religions. Most people who choose to scatter the cremation ashes of a loved one or petition for their cremation ashes to be scattered do so in accordance with the end-of-life preferences held by the deceased themselves. It can be a religious occasion in which the family prays over the ashes with the community of the local religious institution, or simply a situation where ashes are spread with no family members present. In loving families, this is frequently done with sun, stars, or other meaningful visual elements in mind; and in rural locations, from the dead person's favorite mountain, beach, or park. While contemporary scattering is typically done on private property, there are several national parks and other properties that permit the scattering of cremation ashes by permit. There are more unorthodox methods appearing, such as casting cremation ashes into outer space or mixing them with tattoo ink.

In the United States, for many years, the dead were laid to rest in cemeteries or buried on family land, rituals that remained relatively unchanged. Any evolution that occurred was inadvertently due to advancements in technology, safety, or population. In recent decades, however, members of American society, especially the baby boomer generation, have creatively reimagined the consecration of ashes in a variety of forms. New projects are being created to honor the traditions of contemporary scattering. Families are using creative new funeral products, such as sculpted urns designed to return to the natural environment with the ashes within, to blend new traditions with inherited ones, recognizing the intimate rituals scarred into the hardwoods of the collective human past.

2.1. Scattering Ashes in Nature

The great wide world isn't reserved just for the living but actually acts as the gorgeous final resting place for many deceased. In fact, since the time that the human species first arrived on planet Earth, they have been returning to the elements upon their passing away. Scattering ashes in nature is the approach for millions of people around the globe—the eminent method in many regions—because it symbolizes releasing the essence of a person back into the earth or the air.

If burial is often about putting down the body, then scattering ashes represents a return to the elements. It's a method that can carry some of the same power as actually purchasing a burial plot, and is also often chosen for the strongly symbolic message of freedom that it symbolizes. It's as if the connection between earth and spirit is deemed apparent in this method. People who opt for this style of commemoration usually consider the uniqueness of the spot crucial—after all, the chosen spot may be the one place that comes to mind when they ponder what holding the departed dearest means. There's room for feeling and philosophizing about this variety of memorialization, as well. Would it bring you tranquility to know that your brethren will go back to what they came from? Would you prefer this fate for yourself?

What many mourners choose to do with the cremated remains of their dearly departed is return them to the earth. From grand mountaintops to tranquil oceans, there’s no shortage of cherished outdoor locations for scattering ashes. Many families report having positive experiences with scattering ashes in the graveyard, parks, at sea, or anywhere else that feels right. They speak about the sight, scent, and sound of scattering becoming lasting, beautiful memories. Do you envision feeling a special connection with your loved one if their ashes are carried by the wind? Scattering ashes in nature can be meaningful and serene. Just remember to take a few simple precautions to avoid causing permanent harm to the environment and possibly breaking the law, depending on where you choose to scatter the ashes.

2.2. Burying Ashes in a Cemetery

The practice of burial was originally established to help deal with disease, control the spread of disease, and protect the living from the dead. Over time, cemeteries have become sanctified ground for burial and provide a lasting place for the family to mourn, visit, and reflect upon the life of a loved one. Some families gravitate towards the tradition of this practice as they feel that cemeteries have a sacred quality to them where people seek their final peace.

Cremated remains can be buried in a cemetery, often in a designated area for cremation burials, or can be placed at the site of a traditional in-ground burial. There may be many different options available for an in-ground burial in a cemetery. With a scattered garden, a designated area for scattering cremated remains, the cremated remains are scattered over pre-cleared ground and are not disinterred after they are scattered. A columbarium is a building or structure with niches for placing an urn. An urn garden is a designated area with a flat memorial rock that provides a place for placing an urn. Laws and regulations of cemeteries may vary by state and sometimes by local jurisdiction.

Some cemeteries allow a family to purchase a grave that can be used to bury one individual in an urn, or the family can choose to place a larger above-ground monument at the grave site. Cemeteries also have rules and regulations mandating the size and type of monuments that can be used, and the dimensions of these monuments can vary by cemetery. The cost of burying cremated remains in the cemetery will vary by cemetery and grave location. An above-ground cremation niche costs more money than a below-ground in-ground burial. The average cost of this cremation or urn niche ranges from to . The cost also depends upon the relevance of the cemetery location. The family will still need to purchase a grave marker, which costs approximately to . Burying cremated remains in a cemetery is a way to honor the deceased as you are forever commemorating their life and the love you shared with them. It is easier to form a focal point for memorialization if cremated remains are buried in a churchyard, mausoleum, memorial garden, or family plot.

2.3. Creating Memorial Jewelry or Keepsakes

Another option for honoring a deceased loved one is by creating a piece of memorial jewelry or keepsake that contains ashes. For instance, you can purchase a ring or pendant that has a small amount of ashes encased within. These items may contain clear resin so that it is obvious that the ash is inside, or they can feature a small part of a loved one's remains encased in a keepsake. Memorial products may also contain ashes woven within the actual fabric or as a hand-painted swirl. Such personal pieces can be worn or kept as a means of keeping the memory of a loved one close. Often, only the wearer knows the true story behind the jewelry or keepsake, making the piece a deeply intimate one. Some will find both physical and emotional comfort in being able to carry their loved one with them this way.

Memorial jewelry and keepsakes can provide tangible ways for the bereaved to feel connected to the memories of their loved ones. In the case of a ring, the fact that the small area containing ash is also touched as the band is put on serves as an ongoing connection between the wearer and the ash. Additionally, those who carry and wear these special items can feel that memory with every touch. The presence of even just the tiniest amount of ash serves as a lasting symbol. All of this work is handcrafted, lending a deep sense of personalization to each piece. Consider the beauty and comfort these items of memorial jewelry or keepsakes could provide to those who would want a part of their loved one with them. The aesthetic value of the item, along with the emotional meaning, provides a modern and attractive way of keeping special memories.

3. Innovative and Creative Solutions

There are limitless ways to honor your loved one or innovatively store cremation ashes. With the increasing rate of cremation, the number of contemporary and uncommon ways to memorialize the deceased is correspondingly on the rise. Contemporary cemeteries continue to develop new forms of aftercare and memorials that provide families with a progressively creative way to respect and remember their cherished dead. In addition, more far-sighted families choose to memorialize by having cremation ashes included in highly personalized fashion goods, artwork, or other memorable items in order to reaffirm the personality of the deceased, retain a section of them in the home, or release their breath into the environment.

Possibly the most versatile memorial method, there are virtually endless ways to respect and save cremation ashes. Do you want to plant a cremation forest, or do you prefer to set out to sea? You might consider traveling through the virtual galaxy, or entrust cremation ashes to an artist to create a work of art. Do you want to include them in your tattoo, or ask a glassblower to transform the remains in loving memory? The possibilities for you are endless. Using cremation ashes can also be as simple or elaborate as you want. It's possible to create an event around a memorial that will make your family feel healed. After all, you want to retrieve the remains as an eternal keepsake or a one-of-a-kind show. The concept of aftercare is tailored to the person who has passed away. Would you like to boldly go where no one has gone before?

3.1. Incorporating Ashes into Glass Art

Incorporating the ashes of a loved one into an artistic piece, such as a colorful glass sculpture or keepsake, is a stunning way to honor a life and keep their memory close at hand. Glass has a unique way of capturing light, and that often illuminates the way our memories do the same in darkness. Artists often make these memorial pieces by blending your loved one’s ashes with molten glass, sculpting a unique design for each piece, and then cooling them down in an oven. Some can even add a beautiful, colorful glass swirl or an accent with your loved one’s birthstone to make it a little more unique. One can even create a one-of-a-kind, galaxy-shaped paperweight, or a cute heart-shaped fire starter or suncatcher to remember your loved one. Many families say after they receive their unique memorial glass art that it not only celebrates their relationship but represents their loved one beautifully. Typically, artists will use between 1/2 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon from the ashes of an average person per piece, depending on the specific piece. Families can often choose the colors of the glass, style, and whether or not to include the swirls and gemstones in the design. Some choices include butterfly-shaped pendants, dishes, small sculptures, and oversized ornaments, and some will also work with you to include more than one individual in a larger sculpture. Families look to these traditional-style glass art companies that use their loved one’s ashes in the glass art they create to cut down on guilt and hesitation. Those that offer memorial art like glass art tell us that the fact their loved one’s ashes are in the art they bought was very important to them in deciding to purchase it.

3.2. Transforming Ashes into Plant Fertilizer

Transforming ashes into plant fertilizer is a unique way to honor a loved one while supporting new life. Many people find peace and comfort in nurturing plants. Cultivating gardens, orchards, and landscaping not only has physical and emotional benefits, but it also allows a person to create a living memorial to a loved one. Cremains or cremation ashes contain nutrients including phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium that can enrich poor and/or acidic soil, which can be beneficial for new plant life. Of course, cremation ashes are also good for the soul. Taking the time to care for plants is a good way to connect with someone who has passed on. Growing flowers, food, or trees that the deceased appreciated can be great as well.

Ashes can be used outdoors or in containers for decorative gardening purposes. This is yet another way to honor a loved one in memory. Nurturing new plant life and creating a living memorial has practical benefits as well. Cremation ashes are typically organic. At a microscopic level, cremains are composed of compounds near the levels of specific elements on the periodic table. Since plants can utilize almost any element or compound in their growth, adding the cremains to the soil doesn't require a period of decomposition. The plant roots absorb the cremains' nutrients almost immediately. Finally, using ashes in growing plants can be eco-friendly and support the natural processes.

Before deciding to add ashes to gardening or landscaping, the first consideration is if the person who passed would approve of this decision. Some people are especially sensitive or protective of the environment and may object to this practice ethically. When placed directly into the soil, cremation ashes raise the pH. If one is not careful, this could affect the growth cycle of some plants. In addition, it could also affect groundwater as well. If one is going to scatter ashes, it is usually best to mix them into the soil and not just on the surface.

4. Legal and Ethical Considerations

When considering how and where to lay a loved one’s ashes to rest, major considerations include legal requirements and ethical implications. Scattering or burying ashes on your own property is probably legal, but doing so in an established cemetery, in a mausoleum, or on federal land requires permission. If you own the entire property, laying ashes on the land is probably within your rights, although regulations for backcountry and off-trail areas in state and national parks may be different; as always, it is a wise idea to check beforehand. Double-check before scattering ashes on public land not owned by you, as some state and federal parks, public gardens, and beaches may require a permit for this practice, and such permission is sometimes given with specific guidelines. Always note local regulations before scattering ashes on the open water because cremated remains must be at least three miles out from shore before being put in the water, and that a permit may be required for ashes to be scattered at sea.

Diverse approaches to the post-ash body have also been explored to consider ethical implications of possible memorializations. Ethical considerations when honoring and preserving cremation ashes concern the level of respect for the deceased and how to balance personal values of memorialization with the wishes of the deceased and comfort of the bereaved. Seeing to it that the deceased person’s wishes regarding death and burial are followed is bound to be highly influential for most people. This is especially true in some cultures, where certain beliefs make it very important to have the body cremated properly. Ethical decision-making for honoring cremated remains may be difficult. Bereaved persons and their families are entitled to time to consider options and may take comfort in understanding local guidelines.

4.1. Understanding Regulations and Permissions

Regulations concerning cremation ashes vary according to geographic location and site-specific rules that govern state and national parks, wilderness, and other public lands, rivers, and oceans. Countrywide regulations recommend that a minimum of 3 miles should separate inland-scattered ashes from navigable public waters and provide for specific time, location, and container specifications. Burial of ashes at sea, on the other hand, falls under specific regulations that affect the minimum distance from land and the method of disposal. A number of sites elsewhere in the world also require advance permission for memorialization on certain terms. Most institutions do not normally require a licensed funeral director to file for permission, but they will provide details on procedures and requirements. Some institutions, notably churches and other religious cemeteries, operate under the guidance of a parent institution that may have broader jurisdiction. This means that cremation ashes could face site-specific rules and entitle the institution to refuse the burial of ashes if a part of or the request fails to fit the beliefs of the parent organization. Family members are discouraged from purchasing an urn for which it may be difficult to find a homestead without the need to scatter or bury elsewhere.

Apart from understanding the specific rules, it is also important when planning for a memorial to gain a sincere understanding of the regulations before you take action. A guide for national parks advises living family not to scatter because it is illegal but offers no alternatives. Writing or speaking candidly with local authorities regarding one's wishes and a summary of the intended plans can avoid misunderstandings and help to ensure allegiances and sanctity are upheld. If cremation ashes are handled disrespectfully and without appropriate permits, governments have consequences. Scattering even a tiny amount of ashes in a non-personal way can result in criminal or civil complaints as well as arrest.