5 Important Things to Consider When Scattering a Loved One’s Ashes

After a loved one passes, no matter what end-of-life plan that has been chosen for them, handling their remains is a sensitive and emotionally charged experience. Similarly to how a loved one’s burial in a cemetery is a ceremony of tremendous sentiment, scattering a loved one’s cremated remains can hold significant emotional and spiritual meaning too, symbolizing their loved one’s return to nature or delivery to heaven. Paying tribute to a deceased loved one in this fashion will help bring peace and closure to friends and family.

After the decedent’s funeral ceremony and cremation process is complete, you may choose to place your loved one’s remains in an urn and bury them at a Cemetery or scatter their ashes. If you choose to scatter their ashes in a special location or locations, there are some things to consider to best prepare you to memorialize your loved one successfully and meaningfully. We have put together an easy guide of helpful tips to keep in mind during this experience.

1)    Ash and Bones

It’s important to know when your receive your loved one’s remains after the cremations process has been completed, what you receive may not look anything like ash at all, or what you may have expected. Cremated remains do not resemble firewood ash, some having the texture of coarse sand and powder with hard, fragments of bone mixed in.

2)    An Extended Period of Rituals

Instead of holding a one-time ceremony to memorialize your loved one at a burial site and returning to the site occasionally, scattering cremated remains allows for an extended period of rituals to pay tribute to your loved one. You may decide to scatter their remains in one place that holds special meaning to them, or you may choose to visit several important locations, such as a national park, or by sea to release some of their ash, here and there. Also, rather than having to visit a burial site to feel close to a loved one’s remains, you may choose to keep some of their remains in an urn in your home, which will help you feel closer to them and offer peace and closure.

3)    Plan Beforehand

As mentioned before, scattering a loved one’s ashes allows you to release their remains in several meaningful locations. Before traveling to the site in which you will spread their ashes, make sure to plan sufficiently beforehand to research whether or not the location offers the ambiance you are looking for to make the experience more special.

4)    Make Memories with Photographs

If you are scattering a loved one’s remains in various locations, consider close family and friends who may not be able to physically be present to share in the experience. You can record video or pictures as you scatter the remains so you and anyone your beloved decedent held dear can share in the memory.

5)    Scatter with the Wind

As you release the cremated remains, if you are not careful to spread the ashes in the direction of the wind, you may accidentally spill ash on yourself, or some can fall in your eye, etc. Remember, not all pieces of the remains are uniform, so be careful to release them in the direction of the wind. Another thing to keep in mind is take notice of the location in which you will be releasing the remains. As ash can leave sticky residue, if there isn’t water nearby, consider bringing a bottle of water and paper towels for easier cleanup afterwards.