There is a lot to think about when it comes to end of life practices. Have you got your will in order? Have you wrapped up any debts that you were still owing? Have you decided on your final resting place? For many South Africans, they have no choice in the matter. It will be decided by the family and loved ones, and the practice will be the same as their ancestors’, ensuring safe passage and preparation for a peaceful afterlife.
For individuals without traditional customs to honour, the prospect can seem cold and lonely. It can make the prospect of death harder to accept and it can compound the grief of those who mourn the loss, to think of their loved one in such a state. Traditional or not, we all share the human desire to manage the prospect of death, by ensuring that our loved ones are taken care of and not neglected or forgotten. As humans we have found some weird and wonderful new ways to let our loved ones rest.
1. Pod Burials
Pod Burials are not as weird as they sound. They are natural burials, using no embalming fluid or other preservatives that would interfere with the natural end of life process to return to the Earth. The pod is used as a vessel to house the body and is made of easily biodegradable materials that will degrade easily. A popular choice is to add a seed to the pod, effectively allowing for a living monument to grow in place of a tombstone. This process uses very little energy and is an affordable, sustainable alternative to expensive coffins and preservation methods.
2. Aquamation
Currently only available from a funeral parlour in Maitland Cape Town, this gentle process of Alkaline Hydrolysis mimics natural decomposition, but at a faster rate, leaving behind only a harmless liquid. It might not be for everyone, because it is quite different to any other end-of life practice, but worth considering for those who are deeply conscious of the environment. It takes up no space, emits no greenhouse gasses or mercury, and uses very little fuel.
3. Donating your body to Science
This definitely will not appeal to everyone, but it is a truly precious gift to give. None of the major medical advancements that save lives every day, could have been possible without the opportunity to learn from real human bodies. Every life saved, by research, surgery, or treatment, was saved by learning and understanding, with the help of medical donations around the world. For the life-long learners, teachers, and academics, this is a final contribution to education, that will never go unappreciated.
4. Mushroom Suit
This takes the prize for weirdest way to part with your loved one. The burial is in a suit made of natural fibres, that uses mushroom spores (mushroom equivalent of seeds) throughout the fabric. The spores then develop into a large network and cover the entire body, speeding up the natural return to the earth, while the mushrooms neutralize any harmful toxins and bacteria.
5. You can become a diamond.
We saved this one for last because it is so fascinating- You can become an actual diamond. Not particularly eco-friendly as it requires a vast amount of energy to maintain the heat and pressure to grow a diamond, but it saves a great deal of space and leaves a lasting memorial that can be kept very close to the heart. Using the carbon from the ashes after cremation, the diamonds can be different cuts and sizes, even the colours will be unique to each stone. Or you can choose to leave the diamond uncut in its rough state showing off how it grew. Of course, this is not a cheap option. The process requires a tiny “diamond seed” to start off the growth, and then a lot of energy under controlled conditions to maintain it. Due to electrical instability and other factors, this does not take place in SA, the diamond is grown in Germany. However there are South African channels to go through if you feel like your sparkle should be eternal.
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