The ceremony is a 2 to 3-hour long experience
( dependent on number of participants and other factors ) which focuses on turning towards one's own mortality. Participants are faced with their own memorial, participate in a writing exercise, and then are lead through a death visualization. The Living Funeral offers a transformative and cathartic experience, helping individuals cultivate a deeper sense of mindfulness, acceptance, and appreciation for life's beauty and transience. Death meditation underscores the importance of living fully in the present moment.
“This was the first time I’ve done anything like this. I had no idea what to expect...so everything I was writing and voicing was very immediate. I felt like it was easy to just talk about what was on my mind because there was nothing else to lose. It was comfortable.”
“...Their words became my words in the way that their thoughts were sort of my thoughts. There was a blurred distinction between what I was experiencing and what they were experiencing. Ultimately, it lead to this kind of...universality...”
“I felt like afterward there was a lot of love in the air. Everyone felt really warm feelings, which is something I hadn’t expected.”
IMAGE GALLERY
The virtual living funeral ceremony is an online experiential meditation on mortality. Participants are guided, in the comfort of their own spaces, by trained practitioners using Zoom. The ceremony is an invitation to connect deeply with the mystery and richness of one’s life. It is an opportunity to reflect on the past, evaluate the present and prepare for the future.
Participants will contemplate their personal memorial while imagining parts of their identity falling away. They will complete a writing exercise expressing their last words and wishes, and be gently lead through a death meditation using guided imagery. Many past participants have shared that the experience has been life-affirming and even life-altering.
Practitioners offer both group and private sessions.
If you are interested in offering the living funeral to your community, please get in touch.
CROSS@STEADYWAVESCENTER.COM
List of practitioners: HERE
Who is a living funeral for?
A living funeral is for anyone prepared to experience an exercise in confronting their own mortality. It is an intensely personal and potentially challenging event intended to give the participant a clear view of their life as a whole.
Do I have to be at the end of my life to experience a living funeral?
No. This ceremony benefits any person willing to participate in the confrontation of their own mortality.
Is this private, or will others be around?
Two options are offered for the living funeral ceremony: private and group. Booking a private ceremony gives you the control of choosing who will be attending, or choosing to attend alone. The group ceremony is first come first serve and open to the public. Some prefer not to share this intimate experience with those they do not know personally, and a private session is more comfortable in that case.
Can I invite my family?
If you wish to have specific people present, booking a private session is recommended. Though you are welcome to invite your friends and family to sign up for a group session, other members of the public could also be in attendance ( limit for group ceremonies is 15 people ).
What is the difference between a living funeral and an actual funeral?
The traditional definition of the word "funeral" is as follows: "The ceremonies honoring a dead person, typically involving burial or cremation"
A living funeral, or a "pre-funeral" is intended for a person who is not yet dead. This happens in numerous formats all over the world and manifests itself in different forms. The ceremony I perform is unique in that it is offered in a group setting as opposed to focusing on one individual ( except in the case of a private, solo session ). The ceremony's intention is not to function as an actual funeral where family and friends are invited to celebrate the participant's life. The ceremony's intention is to help give the participant what they need in the form of facilitating the confrontation of mortality.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the self-led living funeral ceremony, and to pre-order.
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