January 2010

Scattering the cremains of a loved one can be a traditional and moving way to say farewell, but is not as simple and clean as the phrase “scattering ashes,” implies. In fact, thanks partially to inaccurate portrayals in the media, most people don’t really understand what it takes to dispose of cremated remains. If done incorrectly, rather than a moving farewell ceremony, scattering the ashes (which aren’t even really ashes) of your loved one can be an emotionally draining and unpleasant experience. To ensure that the ceremony goes well, instead of merely choosing a spot and attempting to throw the ashes to the wind, cast them carefully downwind, pour them or place the scattering urn into a trench, rake them into loose soil (as at a scattering garden), or release them from a boat or plane. Plan ahead for your ceremony and be sure to check with local authorities, such as park rangers, to make sure that it is legal to scatter ashes in the location you’ve chosen, as cremation and scattering laws vary from state to state and municipality to municipality.