How to Scatter Ashes
How to Scatter Cremated Remains (Ashes)
You may envision going out to a beautiful spot and scattering your loved ones remains. While
this can be a beautiful, ceremonial and a very healing way of returning a loved one to nature,
it can also be a disaster. The following guidelines, will make the experience a positive one
and make the final wish of your loved one, “I just want my ashes to be scattered” to come true.
To begin, often the word “ashes” is used to describe cremated remains. The media portrays it
as light ash. The reality is the remains are bone fragments that have been mechanically
reduced. They normally don’t gently flow into the air. It is more like heavy sand That being
said there is some dust or ash that can blow in the wind, so when scattering cremated
remains make sure to check the wind so they don’t blow back in people’s faces or onto a boat.
You will also want to consider the legal requirements to scatter remains. In no state is it legal
to scatter remains on private property without permission from the property owner. Many
parks also have rules and permit requirements so you will want to check into the
requirements.
If you do plan on scattering the remains, many people are choosing to keep some of the
remains in a keepsake container or mini urn. Some people feel they still want a part of the
person and sharing the cremated remains is a way to still have a part of the person with you.
Keep in mind, you will want to make sure the partial remains are in a sealed plastic bag inside
the keepsake or mini urn. A funeral director can handle this for you. Many products are also
available such as diamonds that are made out of the remains, jewelry that is designed to hold
the remains or hand blown glass paper weights.
Techniques for Scattering
Casting
Casting is a way of scattering where the remains are tossed into the wind. As I mentioned
previously, you will want to check the direction of the wind and cast the remains downwind.
Most of the remains will fall to the ground and some of the lighter particles will blow in the wind
forming a whitish-grey cloud.
One person in the group may cast the remains or scatter some and hand the container to the
next person so everyone has a chance to ceremonially cast the remains. Another option is
people are given paper cups or casting cups and they cast simultaneously in a sort of
toasting gesture.
Trenching
Trenching is digging a hole or trench in the ground or sand and the remains are placed into
the trench. The remains can be placed directly into the trench or placed in a biodegradable
bag or urn. At the end of the ceremony survivors often rake over the trench. A deceased
name can be drawn in the dirt or sand- perhaps inside of a heart. The remains could also be
placed inside this name and heart. You may consider taking a photo of this for a memory
book. If done at the beach, it can be timed that the tide comes in and ceremoniously washes
it out to sea. Family and friends may want to join hands and form a circle. If not too windy,
candles may also form a circle around the site. The candles are then given to each person as
a keepsake.
Raking
Raking involves pouring the cremated remains from an urn evenly on loose soil and then
raking them into the ground at the conclusion of the ceremony. It is important to keep the urn
close to the ground when pouring out the remains due to wind. Survivors may wish to take
turns raking the remains back into the earth. If you choose to do this at a scattering garden at
a cemetery this is how they will perform the scattering.
Green Burial
This is done either at a cemetery. Some cemeteries will allow you to place a biodegradable
bag or biodegradable cremation urn on top of a gravesite or a family member as long as it is
buried. Remains can also be buried with a traditional cremation urns you choose but should
be one that will withstand the elements such as bronze, granite, marble.
Sometimes the cemetery will want you to also purchase a cremation vault to encase the
cremation urn you select. You should check with the cemetery and see what their
requirements are.
Water Scattering
Water scattering involves placing the remains into a body of water. A biodegradable bag or
urn is recommended. This is most often when cremated remains can blow back into a person’
s face or get washed up onto the side of the boat. Both experiences can be traumatic and not
the everlasting peaceful memory you envisioned. If you search on the internet or in the
phone book you can find people that have boats and are experienced. There are urns on the
market designed to gently float away and then quickly biodegrade into the water. Many
people throw rose petals or flowers into the water after the urn. If the remains are in a
biodegradable bag they may sink so you also may wish to throw a wreath of flowers into the
water and watch the wreath drift away.
You may envision going out to a beautiful spot and scattering your loved ones remains. While
this can be a beautiful, ceremonial and a very healing way of returning a loved one to nature,
it can also be a disaster. The following guidelines, will make the experience a positive one
and make the final wish of your loved one, “I just want my ashes to be scattered” to come true.
To begin, often the word “ashes” is used to describe cremated remains. The media portrays it
as light ash. The reality is the remains are bone fragments that have been mechanically
reduced. They normally don’t gently flow into the air. It is more like heavy sand That being
said there is some dust or ash that can blow in the wind, so when scattering cremated
remains make sure to check the wind so they don’t blow back in people’s faces or onto a boat.
You will also want to consider the legal requirements to scatter remains. In no state is it legal
to scatter remains on private property without permission from the property owner. Many
parks also have rules and permit requirements so you will want to check into the
requirements.
If you do plan on scattering the remains, many people are choosing to keep some of the
remains in a keepsake container or mini urn. Some people feel they still want a part of the
person and sharing the cremated remains is a way to still have a part of the person with you.
Keep in mind, you will want to make sure the partial remains are in a sealed plastic bag inside
the keepsake or mini urn. A funeral director can handle this for you. Many products are also
available such as diamonds that are made out of the remains, jewelry that is designed to hold
the remains or hand blown glass paper weights.
Techniques for Scattering
Casting
Casting is a way of scattering where the remains are tossed into the wind. As I mentioned
previously, you will want to check the direction of the wind and cast the remains downwind.
Most of the remains will fall to the ground and some of the lighter particles will blow in the wind
forming a whitish-grey cloud.
One person in the group may cast the remains or scatter some and hand the container to the
next person so everyone has a chance to ceremonially cast the remains. Another option is
people are given paper cups or casting cups and they cast simultaneously in a sort of
toasting gesture.
Trenching
Trenching is digging a hole or trench in the ground or sand and the remains are placed into
the trench. The remains can be placed directly into the trench or placed in a biodegradable
bag or urn. At the end of the ceremony survivors often rake over the trench. A deceased
name can be drawn in the dirt or sand- perhaps inside of a heart. The remains could also be
placed inside this name and heart. You may consider taking a photo of this for a memory
book. If done at the beach, it can be timed that the tide comes in and ceremoniously washes
it out to sea. Family and friends may want to join hands and form a circle. If not too windy,
candles may also form a circle around the site. The candles are then given to each person as
a keepsake.
Raking
Raking involves pouring the cremated remains from an urn evenly on loose soil and then
raking them into the ground at the conclusion of the ceremony. It is important to keep the urn
close to the ground when pouring out the remains due to wind. Survivors may wish to take
turns raking the remains back into the earth. If you choose to do this at a scattering garden at
a cemetery this is how they will perform the scattering.
Green Burial
This is done either at a cemetery. Some cemeteries will allow you to place a biodegradable
bag or biodegradable cremation urn on top of a gravesite or a family member as long as it is
buried. Remains can also be buried with a traditional cremation urns you choose but should
be one that will withstand the elements such as bronze, granite, marble.
Sometimes the cemetery will want you to also purchase a cremation vault to encase the
cremation urn you select. You should check with the cemetery and see what their
requirements are.
Water Scattering
Water scattering involves placing the remains into a body of water. A biodegradable bag or
urn is recommended. This is most often when cremated remains can blow back into a person’
s face or get washed up onto the side of the boat. Both experiences can be traumatic and not
the everlasting peaceful memory you envisioned. If you search on the internet or in the
phone book you can find people that have boats and are experienced. There are urns on the
market designed to gently float away and then quickly biodegrade into the water. Many
people throw rose petals or flowers into the water after the urn. If the remains are in a
biodegradable bag they may sink so you also may wish to throw a wreath of flowers into the
water and watch the wreath drift away.
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