Souls in the Afterlife

Souls are typically only able to manifest in one place at a time while wearing a physical body. Without the body, a soul can travel anywhere and experience unlimited ability to move about and manifest in any dimension. From what I’ve learned, a soul can move from one place to another with nothing more than a conscious thought. Thus, one who was a mother to you in a recent life is able to be around you one minute and be about her business in other dimensions the next (or even simultaneously).

So, when you think of your loved one, he or she likely senses that vibrational signal and is able to respond by projecting their presence even if you don’t see, hear, or sense them. Many times, our loved ones on the other side give us signs that they are visiting us. Be aware of things crossing your path that are signs of visitation. These include but are definitely not limited to hearing songs she loved, smells that were common to him, objects that she would have liked, etc. For example, when my aunt is visiting me, I smell cigarette smoke and see cameos—a sign that we agreed upon would be an indication that she was contacting me.   

Paths Toward Peace Of Mind As We Mourn

By Lou LaGrand

The pain, frustration, and suffering we go through after the death of a loved one is extremely difficult to cope with and grow through. However, great losses, particularly the changes that go with them, are constant and have to be addressed. Grief by nature is a transformational process: we learn new ways to adapt to a different life or continue to resist the inevitable changes that have to be made. Since there are numerous healing paths to follow, perhaps you will find one or more of the paths below to be one of your choices and provide achievable inner peace in the process.

1. Find your purpose/mission in life. Think long and hard on why you are here. Do you have a personal goal? Purpose gives us meaning and a boost in self-esteem. Examine your skills, abilities, and interests, very closely. Carefully ask yourself what moves you deep within. Then decide on a plan to follow in creating a purpose to lead you to a higher level of consciousness. The sense of accomplishment will transform your life and in the process pull you out of the shadows. The cost of not seeking your niche, your contribution, is overwhelming.

2. Focus more on what you can give and less on what you can receive. We all certainly need support in dealing with our losses. However, it is equally true, that at some point in our grieving seeking to help others even though we are hurting is a historically proven way to cope well. Start by paying the kindness you receive forward. Decide what has helped you up to this point in you grief; analyze it for the needs that it met, and try to meet similar needs in others. Think of these four basic needs we all hope to be fulfilled in our interpersonal relationships: attention, acceptance, affection, and appreciation. Decide on the many behaviors you can generate to meet these needs in others. You can build more peace within as you bring peace to them.

3. Choose to develop your ability to become more loving. Love is a great unused power in dealing with all sorts of difficult situations. Grieving and adapting to great losses are situations in which working to love deeper and more completely brings new perceptions in seeing the world and our places in it. Great love strengthens the quality of our inner lives.

Look for uplifting and inspiring readings or poetry which suggests loving kindness as the motivating force behind it; read a short paragraph daily and then commit to those loving actions as you go through your day. Ask yourself. "What actions can I take to give unconditional positive regard to someone today?" Developing this daily routine will add structure to your life and help stabilize the sense of disorganization that accompanies grief work.

4. Develop and nurture a belief in something greater than the self. For most, grief is a heart-filled spiritual journey which fills mourners with a different perception of life and death. It may be appropriate to join a spiritual community to be with others who share similar values. Just being in their company to listen can be a soothing experience and you may find spiritual exercises that bring great insight and peace.

The awareness of spiritual knowledge and the impact it can have on every facet of life is a resource of inestimable value in coping with the death of a loved one. If you don't have one, find a spiritual path. Don't allow the culture we live in to deemphasize the importance of faith and spirituality in living a full life and coping with the massive changes we all eventually face.

5. Be open to new ideas and ways to adapt to change. There are so many ways to cope with great losses, many we never think about. So read all you can about how others cope with their losses. Ask others how they were able to adapt to their great loss and find peace. For example, consider deciding to search for ways to deal with your pain and not run from it. Uncover new responses that help ease pain. There are some that will fit your belief system and you can implement them to your own individual situation.

Be sure to include ways to deal with stress which commonly builds as we think too much

about what we do not have. Daily stress management will not only help your mind, it will be a great gift to your body as well. Start by learning about mindfulness techniques and belly breathing.

6. Learn what you can and cannot control. One goal that all of the various grief theories agree on is that the ultimate goal of grieving is acceptance of what has occurred. Of course, not easy to do. This acceptance translates into coming to grips with what you can control, like in the present moment, and what you cannot change or affect from the past. No one can reverse what has occurred. Knowing the difference is a choice requiring wisdom and sometimes guidance from others. It can also require prayer and/or deep meditation. Making the choice of acceptance, which means to live with the fact, not necessarily like it, would be a great start to inner peace.

7. Set a goal to reach in honor of your loved one. Peace comes through doing as well as thinking. Allow yourself to be touched and motivated by the invisible presence of the beloved. Unwavering determination is of essential importance in completing your mission. So once you have chosen how you will pay tribute, create a schedule of when and how you will work on it. Develop the habit of eliminating self-sabotaging thoughts of what you don't have by switching to a focus on your progress of paying tribute to your loved one.

Continually work to create a conscious lifestyle that has peace of mind as a top priority. Make this is a daily duty.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lou_LaGrand

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Heather Von St James | A Mesothelioma Cancer Survivor Story

Cancer is not the focus of this blog, but a positive, uplifting story about overcoming an illness can be a huge help to any sort of caregiver when they're feeling down.

Cameron Von St. James was thrown into the role of caregiver when his wife, Heather, was diagnosed with a very rare and deadly cancer called mesothelioma, just three months after the birth of their only child. They were initially told that she could have less than 15 months to live, but she was able to defy the odds and eventually beat the cancer. During her treatment, Cameron had to learn quickly to be an effective caregiver, and there were many times when he became overwhelmed and beaten down by the role, but he and his wife managed to fight through it together. They recently participated in a short video about his wife's cancer experience, which they hope to use to raise awareness and support for people fighting illness, and the caregivers who fight alongside them. Here is the link to the video: http://can.cr/heather
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Virgil Anderson is a lung cancer survivor through the care of the medical professionals at mesothelioma.net, one of the most comprehensive online resources for mesothelioma asbestos health and safety information. "Heather's story is a testament to the strength and courage of women everywhere, and a beacon of light to the asbestos cancer community," says Virgil.

We send continued well wishes to Virgil and all those who are fighting or have overcome this disease.



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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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How to Communicate With the Dead

By Tina Bardo

Believe it or not, there are many ways to communicate with spirit, over and above the ones that everyone already is familiar with.

For example...

Did you know that "mirror gazing" or using what is called a psychomanateum, can lead to profound experiences with spiritual visitation? (and experiences that well over 90% of those who try it report felt as "real" as if they were visiting their loved ones while alive)

As a matter of fact... the famous author, Dr. Raymond Moody (well known for coining the phrase "Near Death Experience" in his seminar book, "Life after Life") spent a few years researching using mirror gazing to facilitate personal experiences with the deceased... and the published results were remarkable. (and documented in his book entitled, "ReUnions")

How about EMDR? Familiar with it? It's a form of therapeutic rapid eye movement that is well known to help all sorts symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, and as an unexpected side effect, many patients reported having incredible visitations with their deceased loved ones while having the experiences. Dr Alan Boyntin, the pioneer of this particular healing modality also has written extensively about these "after-worldly" encounters as a result of having this exotic treatment... and while he's not sure what they represent, they clearly are being reported as 100% real by his patients.
Other easy ways to get personal proof that the afterlife is AVAILABLE to you?

I've had amazing experiences with a Ouija board that were so incredible...most of the people I tell about them DON'T think they're true. (and they are, as those of us who were there can attest!)

Meditation is a great way to develop mediumistic abilities, as it seems to reduce the mental filter that separates our biology (our brains) from being able to access the otherworldly and afterlife realms (which I believe are pure energy... and meditation helps us to open up channels within our minds to access this energy that is always around us).

Lastly, speaking to a psychic medium who has the ability to communicate with spiritual or ethereal dimensions is a GREAT way to put all of this to the test in your own life. I was a die hard skeptic many years ago... and it wasn't until I had a first hand experience with a genuine medium by phone who told me things that were impossible for her to have known, did my mind start opening to the notion that death is NOT the end. And since then... the journey I've taken looking for evidence has changed my life in so many exciting ways, they'd be impossible to count.

Most importantly? That death is NOT the end. And that the "dead" do want to hear from us. And that when we're ready... and committed to making contact, they WILL be there to respond!

Want PROOF? Click Here ==> to Join Our FREE Psychic Community and discover the TRUTH about psychics, spirits and the shocking afterlife evidence that will convince YOU, Too!
Or - Talk to a LIVE Psychic Today and Get PROOF That Your Life Has REAL Purpose. (AND Find out What it is TODAY!)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Bardo
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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Loving Parents Who Are Fading

By Marcia McGuire

If you have someone in your family who is fading with Alzheimer, you will relate to this article about my Dad. He has dementia. Some days he'll play the piano and sing, others he can't even find his bedroom. He repeats so much, your head is reduced to just nodding a smile because you've heard the same words over a hundred times. I can't count all the times I've heard how some men came over to hang his elk heads on the wall. (Actually, it was my sister and her son, but telling him otherwise, as you know, won't be a part of the next conversation.)

But this article isn't about my visits to see daddy. It's about his caregiver, my faithful mom. She has her own health problems and yet, she's the sole person to love and take care of her aging husband while at the same time, struggles to keep a hold of her own health.

How many couples are in that same situation, one taxing the other, both spiraling down? Our weekly visits and prayers that the next time we come, that they'll be doing just as good, aren't all that they need. What is to be done?

Here's some ideas:

1. If at all possible, have them live near one of the children, not necessarily in their home, but around the corner or in a small apartment on the property. This way they'll have someone there every day to check and give rides for groceries or to see grandchildren. It isn't the same when they live across town. If anything, it's important just so they know someone is nearby to give them security.

2. Have a church body or circle of friends help. We want to serve one another and what better way than to reach out to our elderly. It's amazing how having another person there can make both brighten up.

3. Make arrangements for the caregiver (mom in our case) to have time away from the Alzheimer one which gives them a fresh look and a breather. Arrange for a senior citizen bus to pick them up for a day out with others their age. There's caring folks working in these services that are great asset.

4. Cook meals ahead so you know they are going to eat right. Package and freeze in their meal proportions.

5. If they don't know computers, introduce the caregiver parent a simple way to get online. Show them how easy it is to shop online and have it sent right to their front door. Use as few of click as possible to enjoy Facebook, where they can meet friends. Set the screen saver to show pictures of family. We make CDs and installed them into mom's My Pictures in her computer. This way they can sit and see familiar faces. Dad especially recognizes his mom and for the time being, his children although that part is fading too, so keeping faces familiar is important.

6. Be careful how you tell either of them what they need to do. They've made decisions all their lives and taking away that thought process is detrimental to both. It's especially vital to have the caregiver spouse have space and an opinion. Suggestions, yes, but not "You need to...." Encourage both of them gently, never boss which quite often makes them balk and not cooperate. They both need dignity and lots of "yeses" especially the Alzheimer parent. I remember one incident where dad wouldn't get in the shower because he was told he had to. My sister came in and just said, "Dad, the showers on. Your turn," and he forgot he was arguing about getting in.

7. Call them often. My sisters have daily rituals to call mom on their way to work, and she watches like clockwork for their calls. I'm not a phone talker, so I send love letters in the mail. Mailboxes get way too many ads and bills, so I love picturing dad peering inside their box by the front door and carrying his treasure to mom to read. (You should see some of the silly treasures they get inside that box.)

8. Most important, remember, they've taken care and loved each other all these years and know they're married for better or worse. The worse is happening, and they're dealing with it. We need to be a safety net for them.

9. And when, and if, the day arrives they have to place their dementia companion in a care center, be even more keen for the one left at home. It will be empty and, after nurturing their "child" sweetheart for so long, they'll wonder what's next and how to fill their time. Add to this, all the memories that will fill their minds, acting like little ghost everywhere. Be acutely aware how they're coping with all the changes.

10. Talk with your siblings and other family members of ways you can help them. Hopefully they will realize their responsibility is to be there for them.

Think of this story that pretty much explains what is going on.

"It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 a.m., when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

"On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

"I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

"I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

"I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.' True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be."

And that's life for our family. Daddy has dementia. We deal with it because we love him. Many families have a parent that is fading and needs assistance, for us to be involved and loving them all that we can. They were there for us. We're returning. And the circle of life goes around until we may find we are fading and need our children to love us.

Marcia is married to Dennis and has seven children, is grandma to sixteen, a school teacher and has an online shopping mall with name brand stores. [http://www.grenfo.com/newsletter.html]

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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The Benefits of Creating Good Memories

By Dora Carpenter

I spent time recently with my two beautiful children doing nothing. Oh, how precious. What is doing nothing? Nothing for us meant spending time together with no distractions. No distractions of driving, restaurants, amusement parks, crowds of people, shopping centers, beaches, or holiday activities. What did we do? We spent quality time together. Talking, sharing, reliving childhood memories, laughing, joking, and crying. Unconsciously, we temporarily forgot the outside world, the time of day, the situations of life. We were creating good memories for the future.

Often, at funerals and memorial services, we learn things about a person we never knew; and, wish we had gotten to know the person more deeply. We wish we had spent more quality time with them, and created more good memories. Not having, or taking, the opportunity to do so can bring on guilt, one of the deepest emotions of grief. Guilt because of things you didn't do, things you wanted to do, things you couldn't do. In order to move forward with this emotion of grief, begin to look at your own life. Determine what things you can do with family and friends to begin, or continue, creating good memories.

Make quality time a priority on your schedule for family and friends. You will be so glad that you did. Here is an exercise to get you started:

Set aside several hours to dedicate to this exercise. Schedule a time that will work for you and whomever you choose to spend this quality time with, i.e., a family member, close friend, friend you haven't spoken to in a while, a mentor, etc. Set the parameters for this time so both of you agree. I suggest the following:

• No cell phones, iPads, etc.
• A place away from home or office to allow for no distractions
• No time constraints to rush ending the time together
• No uninvited guests allowed

Well, I'm sure you get the point. I am willing to bet that many will find this exercise difficult to do, especially if you adhere to the "no cell phone" parameter.

Remember that each day you are creating a legacy for the family and friends that you will one day leave behind. Why not make a decision to leave them many good memories?

I would love to hear your results. How did you feel after the exercise? Will you do it again? Why or why not?

Statistics show that it normally takes 5-8 years to recover from a devastating loss. Dora Carpenter, Certified Grief Coach, Certified Life Coach, and founder of The ANIYA Group Life Coaching Center, says it doesn't have to take that long. Her grief coaching practice offers hope, encouragement and support. In her book, "The Grief to Gratitude Blueprint... What to Do When Death Occurs," Dora gives tips on 24-72 hours following a death... and beyond. Download her book at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0098B86XU. Read more about Dora at http://www.DoraCarpenter.com.

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Caregiving For Elderly Parents - Managing Money Issues

By Sharon Elrod

Many seniors have elderly parents for whom they provide caregiving. Senior citizens are helping each other when they talk about their various experiences with aging parents. These are some conversations recently observed among seniors talking about parenting their parents.

One had an aging parent in a nursing home in another city. On their behalf, they recently sold some property from an estate for which they were a beneficiary. The funds were then deposited in an account to be used exclusivly for the parent. The procedure was then explained to the parent, whereupon they stated that they expected the funds to be deposited in a local bank account, so they "...can write checks" to use the money. This elderly parent has a slight cognitive impairment and medical reports from several different offices have noted her poor judgment and inability to do effective reality testing over the past decade; she was also recently a victim of an identity theft scam that left her totally perplexed about how she was victimized. She hasn't had access to a checking account for several years, and it became the editor's job to determine how he would handle this situation with his mother.

He decided to write a letter to his mother detailing how the funds were reserved for her use, and why he would remain in control of them, which in effect meant she would not have direct access to the money. He asked her to keep the letter so when she had questions about why she couldn't write checks on the account, she could refer to the letter for a detailed explanation. The letter was written in kind and loving tones, using simple language she could easily understand. He expects to hear questions from her about the funds, and he will both answer the questions as well as refer her to the letter that explains the entire process. He is credited with maintaining a loving and supportive relationship with his mother throughout his life, never giving her any reason to doubt his intentions with relationship to her.

Another senior citizen is dealing with an aging parent who managed his own financial affairs until just the past couple of months. He is severely cognitively impaired and unable to remember anything beyond a few seconds. Long term memory is somewhat better, but even details are confused when he relates a memory from years ago. Over several months, it became clear to the editor and her siblings that he was unable to manage his various investments alone and, in fact, there was some concern about the possibility of identity theft and being a victim of scams on the elderly. She knew action had to be taken sooner rather than later.

She and her siblings agreed they would ask him to voluntarily execute the power of attorney he had prepared several decades ago, realizing that if he did not agree, they would be faced with having him declared mentally incompetent-a place none of them wanted to go. When approached about the POA, he readily agreed to execute it, which now allows two of them to participate in all financial decisions that must be made on his behalf. The siblings are credited with maintaining a loving relationship with him over eight decades which was likely the basis for him feeling comfortable with signing the document.

On the surface, these two experiences have very little in common. However, the seniors discussing the issue agreed they learned an important lesson in caregiving for elderly parents: There aren't any 'rules' for how to deal with financial issues with elderly parents. Each situation must be carefully evaluated, taking in to account all the dynamics and variables that affect where the parent is at a given point in time, knowing that can change in the future. The best advice coming from the discussion is to act from a position of love and caregiving for one's parent, evaluating medical, social, environmental, mental, emotional, psychological realities of the parent, and then asking yourselves how you would want your child/children to act if you were the one receiving care.

Article provided by Sharon Shaw Elrod. Senior Citizen Journal, Your Partner in Productive Aging, provides current and relevant information on topics of interest to seniors. Please visit my web site at http://www.seniorcitizenjournal.com/.

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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How Angels Help With Communicating With the Dead

By Steve G. Jones

Communicating with the dead can be a complicated process. Some people choose to hire professional psychics or mediums such as the ghost whisperer John Edwards. But that route can be expensive and though it may may take more time and patience, you can communicate with the dead on your own - well, with a little help from your angels!

The first thing to remember when seeking to communicate with the dead is that you want to come from a place of love and light. This is where your angels can come into to help you. Your angels are nothing but love and light and protection so it makes perfect sense to ask them assist you on your quest to communicate with departed loved ones or spirits.

The first step is to write down in a letter your purpose for wanting to communicate. To do this find a quiet space in your house, light some incense and candles. Relax with a few deep breaths and then begin by writing down the name of person that has passed on you are hoping to communicate with, any questions that you want to ask them and any other information you are hoping to gather from your session. End your letter by asking your angels for their assistance in this endeavor, ask them to surround you with love and light during the whole process and be sure to thank them in advance for their love and protection.

Once you are ready to begin your session you can call on your own guardian angels. We are all born with multiple guardian angels that were assigned to us and only us to stay with us throughout our lives and provide protection and guidance. You can call on them by simply asking aloud or in your head for them to come be by your side and they will. You may not be able to see them but trust that they are there. After calling on your own guardian angels for protection and assistance I would also ask for the guidance of an archangel. You can pick anyone that you desire as they are all powerful protectors and messengers, but if you are unsure the one I would recommend calling on first is the Archangel Gabriel. She is a powerful archangel entrusted with many duties, but among them is the ability to help us receive visions. She assists us when we are blocked spiritually, and helps us to receive messages or visions, including those from our loved ones that have passed on. To call on her is as simple as calling on your own guardian angels, just ask for her and she will be by your side.

Now that you have written down your purpose for communicating with dead and called on your angels for guidance and protection you are ready to begin your session. Simply find a quiet space to relax, light a few white candles and begin by reading your letter aloud, then trust your inner voice and begin your journey towards communicating with the dead.

Steve G. Jones is a board certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. He is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Board of Hypnotherapy, president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists, on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association, and director of the California state registered Steve G. Jones School of Hypnotherapy. In order to keep up with the very latest in research, he regularly attends training conferences. Learn more by visiting:

http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/

Learn more about in Steve G. Jone's guide for astral projection

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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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Planning Funeral Arrangements

By Jason Ellis

Unless your loved one left detailed instructions on the type of funeral, it is up to you and other family members to decide on the most appropriate way to put your loved one to rest. The decision might be guided by his or her religious affiliation, or simply by financial means. Sometimes, you have to take into consideration the personality and passions of your loved one. For example, if he or she was avid environmentalist, traditional funeral is not a good option.

Most people opt for traditional funeral, but before deciding on that you should explore the options. Traditional funerals are by far the most expensive kind. Count to spend at least $10,000 and probably much more. Other options are not only cheaper, but are more environmentally friendly and make more sense.

Donating body to the medical science means that the entire body will be used by teaching hospitals. In most cases, it is free and the hospital takes care of the removal of the body, embalming and later cremation. This is a good option if your loved one ever expressed interest in it, if he or she had particular affiliation with some hospital or if you and the rest of the family believe that it makes sense that the body can continue to contribute to the society even after death. If interested in this option, get in touch with the local teaching hospital and ask them for details.

Cremation is another affordable option. If your state has a Cremation Society, they can arrange to take the body directly to the crematory. The cost is about $500. If you let the local funeral home take care of the cremation, the cost will be much higher.

You can arrange for a cremation even if you opted for a traditional funeral service, with viewing, embalming and the whole costly set. Some state legislations require that the cremation is arranged through a funeral home.

It is good to know that, according to the US law, the body can be cremated in a shroud, or a simple biodegradable box which is not a coffin, for a very small fee.

You do not have to accept the urn that your funeral home offers. If you decide to keep the ashes of your loved one, you can find a nice vase, urn or ginger jar that you will enjoy having in your home. Alternative is to scatter the ashes over the sea, in the park or in the garden, as your loved one would have wished.

Green burial is gaining popularity, especially among the more environmentally conscious people. The bodies are buried in shallow graves in special Green Cemeteries, without the embalming and in simple, biodegradable boxes. The graves are often marked with GPS or a flat stone, or with a tree or plant, so that the place can be visited later.

Some funeral homes now offer green burials in regular cemeteries, but the costs are much higher.

A Home funeral means that the entire process is done at home. There is no embalming

of the body, so appropriate refrigeration with dry ice has to be ensured. This consideration also makes home funeral faster than in the funeral home.

Home funerals are legal in most states and are traditional in many cultures. They allow family to say good-bye to the loved one in a very personal way.

Home funerals are also much cheaper than public funerals in funeral homes, what can be an important consideration in difficult financial times.

Traditional funerals are still the most popular in spite of the exorbitant costs, because of their familiarity. Traditional funerals are organized by funeral homes, who offer to take the body, embalm it, and prepare it for viewing, service and burial.

Funeral service can be religious or non-religious. If it is not religious, you are free to organize it the way you believe your loved one would want it, with friends and family sharing their memories, with the music he or she loved.

Don't forget that the funeral service is actually for the living, the departed loved one is past caring. It is the time and place to offer comfort, share the grief and celebrate life. It is an important part of the grief process.

Chances are you're undergoing some turbulent emotions at this time, planning a memorial service or a funeral. Remember, you're currently going through the 5 grief stages so try not to add any additional stress into your life at this time.
 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Ellis
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For more information, you might enjoy reading my book, More Than Meets the Eye True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife. Purchase paperback on Amazon.com. It's also on Amazon as an e-book for those who have Kindle or Sony Readers. The audio book is now available!
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