There are as many ways to die as there are to live, and as with birth their are many ways you can take control of your (or your loved ones) process of death, but when faced with a sick and dying loved one who thinks to question the system.
Generally if people are dying of an illness they go to hospital to die, imagine if we could put as much trust in the process and plan a home death the way we do with a home birth. What would death look like then?
Recently i was reading Kindred Magazine and i was excited and inspired by the articles they have on natural dying.
As i have mentioned i have been lucky enough to be with my aunt on her journey of living and dying with terminal cancer. Don't get me wrong, its challenging and sad but it is also so inspiring to watch her conviction her strength and the families determination to give her what she needs and keep her home and comfortable. We are not at the really hard stuff yet, but i have no doubt that our family will pull together and do what is needed so that she can die with dignity and know that she is valued and cherished and important enough to put all other things on hold and give her the time and support she needs.
When mum died we mentioned that she had wanted a cardboard coffin, the lovely funeral director looked into it for us and found out that legally in Australia at the time it was not an option. We had so few choices and because of the suddenness of her death we were not in the head space to research or think outside the box. Looking at it now there is a company that are providing low cost biodegradable coffins.
There are also places and organisations that are working toward setting up sustainable cemeteries. These are 'green' cemeteries that only take biodegradable coffins and they plant local native trees over the burial site to create a sustainable bushland environment that contributes to the planet, instead of manicured lawns tombstones and plastic flowers.
There are people who will paint your coffin for you in any way you or your family want
or you could take it home and paint it with your family
So many ways to take control and reclaim cherish and nurture our family member at this sacred time. I hope when i die my loved ones do more than call their local funeral home ........
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