Having an ash scattering ceremony is one of many ways you can honor and celebrate a loved one after a cremation service in Warman, SK. There is no established structure to the event, and you can personalize it. You can have it however you want, with whomever you want.

What is an ash scattering ceremony?

Friends and family of a deceased person come to watch the dispersal of their cremains during an ash scattering ritual. Ash scattering ceremonies can be held in a variety of settings, including someone’s garden and open water.

Steps to consider

If it’s going to be a meaningful ceremony, there are a few steps to consider beforehand.

Step 1. Choose a Location

It is easy to settle on the right location if the person specified their preferred final place of rest before passing. If they didn’t, you have to come up with one yourself. True, you can have a scattering ceremony anywhere you want. Still, not every venue is suitable for you or your loved one.

The most appropriate place to have an ash-scattering ceremony is somewhere with meaningful significance to you or the deceased. It could be a specific local park, a restaurant, a stadium, or a beach. Once you’ve identified the right location, check with the local authorities that it’s okay to scatter ashes there. You may have to apply for a permit or permission if it’s private property.

Step 2.Type of Scattering Service

The location you choose informs the type of scattering you can have. The most common type when people think of scattering is a casting ceremony. It involves pouring the ashes out of the urn and letting the wind spread them. But that’s not the only way to scatter ashes. Others include:

Trenching: it can happen anywhere and involves digging a hole in any shape and spreading the ashes inside. A common location for this type of scattering is the beach, where it’s easy for family members to create a shaped hole in the ground.

Aerial or Sky: a variation of casting ceremony that occurs at a higher altitude. The ashes are poured from a tall building, airplane, hot air balloon, or helicopter. You or a few family members might join the aircraft or pay them to do it for you.

Water: for this one, you need a water-soluble urn. The ashes are poured inside the urn and placed in the water. After a while, the urn dissolves into the water, and the water carries the ashes away.

There are several other ways to scatter the ashes, and like the location, the right one depends on which one carries more meaning. A water scattering may be more appropriate if the deceased loved fishing or spent plenty of time on the sea. Similarly, trenching may be better if the deceased enjoyed gardening and nature.

Step 3. Select a Celebrant

It’s a good idea to have one individual serve as the designated leader, even if you’re organizing a straightforward, informal ash scattering ceremony. If you’re organizing the event, you can either take the lead yourself or ask someone else to do so. You can enlist the aid of a relative, acquaintance, or even a religious figure to direct the event.

It is the leader’s responsibility to keep the event moving according to the plan and to be aware of it. He or she might just maintain order or play a more active part by reciting poetry or prayer, delivering the eulogy, or being the one to sprinkle the ashes. Having a guide who understands what to do next can make the ceremony flow more smoothly and eliminate ambiguities.

Step 4. The scale of the Ceremony

Once you’ve determined the where, how, and who the final part is the what. Adding a few activities to the scattering event elevates the occasion and makes it more intimate. This could be anything from sharing stories and memories about the deceased to poems and Bible readings. You can have a clergyperson lead the ceremony or do it yourself.

You should also say something when scattering the ashes. It doesn’t have to be “ashes to ashes” but something from the heart. After the ceremony, you can have a reception or a hangout with guests. And if you’ve got a plan and need funeral homes to bring it to life, contact us. We are committed to helping families say goodbye to their loved one in a unique, intimate way. Call us now at (306) 242-7888 to get started.