A Sacred Moment Blog

We at A Sacred Moment always look forward to teaching our regular workshops about home funeral vigils and green burial at Bastyr University. Any opportunity to meet and talk with people who are interested in the things we do, and share our knowledge, is special to us. The experience is always inspiring and rejuvenating, if also a bit overwhelming (in a good way)! Last weekend’s class was no exception.

We had a record turnout of almost 20 participants, all of whom were fired up and curious about alternative, sustainable deathcare – both the practical applications and the larger, societal implications. The students were from all over western Washington, and represented a wide range of professional and personal interests drawing them to the subject matter.

Some are preparing to take care of their own aging loved ones during home funeral vigils in the future. Others are therapists or nurses who see education about funeral options as a natural extension of their roles in the lives of the individuals and families they support. Still other participants feel passionate about bringing these traditional options to their wider communities, as home funeral guides and sources of information.

The day-long workshop always goes by much too fast, and with never enough time to pack in all the information, dialogue, and hands-on training we want. Funeral directors, especially “alternative” funeral directors, sometimes feel like weirdos with creepy proclivities when we’re out in the wider world. So being in a room full of people who are just as “weird” as we are, and interested in the same things – that so many others are afraid or unwilling to talk about – feels like a humbling affirmation of our work and shared vision, every time. We are so grateful to all who participated, and to Bastyr for being such wonderful hosts, as always.

If you’d like to attend a workshop in the future, consider joining our email list, and keep an eye on our Facebook page and events section of our website. And check out some photos (courtesy of staff member Jan) from last weekend’s class, below!

-Lindsay