The Emotional Comfort of Holding a Loved One: Why Cremation Stones Bring Solace

A feeling of peace can be hard to find in the aftermath of losing a loved one. There is something missing, and while you are trying to continue on in life, it’s hard to no longer have the sensation of holding the person who meant so much to you. 

 

One of the best features of cremation stones is the way they allow you to hold your loved one again at any time. There is something powerful about holding these memory rocks, and they can help you get through the toughest periods of grief that are likely to come and go over the years ahead.

 

The Healing Power of Touch

Grief affects us physically just as it affects us emotionally. When you are grieving the loss of a loved one, you are missing not only their company, but also their touch. Whether it’s a long hug, holding hands, or any other type of physical contact, you long to be in their physical presence again. 

This is why having something to touch during this difficult phase is so important. With cremation stones nearby, you’ll always have something you can hold when you wish that person was still with you. It’s not the same thing, of course, but it does help to close the emotional distance and give you a feeling of peace and calm.

 

Everyday Moments of Connection

One of the great things about cremation stones is how they can be so present in your daily life. You don’t have to go for a long drive to visit the memorial of a loved one, as you’ll be able to reach for the stones at any time to bring back their memory. Also, you could place a variety of stones in various places around your home, so you can encounter them during everyday moments and activities. For example, there might be a stone by your bed, another in the kitchen, and yet another on your desk. Wherever you are, a wonderful reminder of that person will always be there.

 

A Quiet Source of Strength

Stones are also subtle in a way that some other memorials may not be. You can just hold a stone in your hand and not need to explain anything to anyone. It can just be part of what you do. Or, you can add some of these stones to a garden memorial, and to everyone else, they will just look like they were placed there by nature. But you will know the true story.

 

A Meaningful Memorial

At The Sacred Stones, we can turn ashes into stone for any family who wants to have solidified remains that they can touch and hold. If you have been wondering what to do with the ashes you received after cremation, having stones created is a unique opportunity to make something tangible that could become your most treasured possession. Contact our team today to learn more.

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.