Human Ashes to Stone: A Dignified and Tangible Legacy

Few experiences in life are as difficult as the loss of a loved one. There are so many emotions to process, and the finality of the loss is a hard thing to grapple with. As you go through the grieving process, one thing is for certain – you want to find a way to remember your loved one in a lasting and tangible manner. 

Cremation stones are an ideal way to do just that. At The Sacred Stones, we turn human ashes to stone to provide families with something that is sure to become a treasured possession. You can learn more about the process here on our site and contact us directly with any questions.

 

Why Tangible Items Help with Grief

As you try to figure out what to do with people’s ashes after they pass, it’s important to remember how helpful having tangible items can be in the grieving process. In the aftermath of a painful loss, you are likely to feel lost in life, and you may be looking for something to hold onto. That’s where a tangible keepsake can be a huge relief. With something that is going to stay with you and will always be there to offer peace and comfort close at hand, grieving might get just a little easier.

 

What Are Cremation Stones?

Cremation stones are one of the best options to create a tangible memorial of your loved one. These stones are made using the cremation ashes of a loved one who has passed. Transforming the ashes into beautiful stones is a meaningful process that will leave you with something the whole family can cherish. 

When you work with The Sacred Stones, you’ll be getting something that isn’t mass-produced or generic. They are unique pieces that reflect the person you are honoring. Our customers report feeling a deep, powerful connection to their loved ones through the stones they receive.

 

The Making of a Legacy

One of the most powerful feelings you experience after a loss is the desire to keep the memory of that person alive. You don’t want them to fade into history. You want them to be remembered, talked about, and loved. Cremation stones are a nice step in that direction. The stones can be held regularly or placed in a specific spot to create a memorial. However they are used, they’ll immediately become part of the legacy that your loved one has left behind, and that lives on in you and the rest of the family.

 

Consider This Loving Tribute

There is no right way to celebrate your loved one. You may choose to keep the cremation ashes in a beautiful urn, or you might have them turned into something new, like cremation stones. If you decide to turn ashes into stones, The Sacred Stones would love to serve you and your family on this meaningful project.

FAQ

Why Stones?

Stones speak to us.

They are beautiful solid reminders of connection and dependability.

They provide a way to hold and be close with your loved one in a tidy and touching way.

We spend a lot of our free time outdoors, particularly around water - trout fishing, kayaking, camping, hiking. Often, we collect rocks and stones as reminders of these adventures.

Believing in the power of stones as a part of nature, we began crafting ashes into their shapes. Starting in 2023, we developed a process that we believe gives people a beautiful alternative to the traditional ways of storing or scattering ashes.

Why Not Scatter Ashes Or Keep Them In An Urn?

  • While scattering ashes is a very common way to say our final goodbyes to a departed loved one, there are negative environmental impacts from this practice. Cremated human ashes contain very high levels of salts and highly alkaline components - these can cause damage to plants, soil microbes, soil nutrient balance, and leaching of salts into groundwater. Salt Stress in Plants and Mitigation Approaches
  • Everyone handles grief, loss, and death in their own way, and that is why we are here. Personally, we feel that transforming ashes into a form which can be touched and held close or returned to nature feels less confining than an urn or columbarium.

How Long Does The Process Take?

Our current order time is 4-5 weeks from when we receive your loved one's package in our workshop.

How Do I Ship The Ashes To You?

  • Currently the only legal method of shipment for cremated remains is via USPS Priority Express with appropriate labeling:

How to Package and Ship Cremated Remains

  • We will mail a package of shipping materials and instructions to your home once your order is received through our website. These should arrive within 5-10 business days from USPS.
  • *The buyer is responsible for the shipping cost of sending cremated remains to Sacred Stones*
  • We will keep you informed about the status of the shipped ashes and stones.

Are They Environmentally Friendly?

  • Our process involves the careful removal of excess salts and highly alkaline components of cremated remains prior to formation of the stones.
  • After the removal of these components, our stones and the solidified ashes within may be placed in nature without the concern of damage to the soil, water, and ecosystem.
  • Our stones include a protective shellac coating for increased longevity when exposed to the elements, without any risk of plastic or chemical contamination.

How Long Do Our Stones Last?

  • Our stones will last indefinitely indoors - outdoors they will break down over time due to normal wear and tear due to weather conditions. Over time meaning months to years (not days or hours).
  • Our stones are water-resistant but not waterproof, we use shellac as an environmentally friendly exterior coating (versus epoxy/plastics which would be waterproof but result in plastics being released into the environment). 

Do I Have To Order Online?

  • No, you are welcome to pay over the phone and we will confirm order detail with an itemized invoice.
  • We try to be as flexible as possible during such a difficult time of loss - we can process your payment through email or you can send us a check.

What Size And Color Are The Stones?

  • Each stone is approximately 2-4 inches wide.
  • Our collections of Sacred Stones use a variety of shapes and sizes so that each stone is unique. Each stone is modeled after a real stone collected from nature, so each one is perfectly unique.
  • Generally the stones are white to tan in color. But the color of the stones will be unique due to the natural variations in pigments contained within the cremated ashes of your loved one, reflecting their own unique characteristics and life to be remembered.