“I thought the earth remembered me, she took me back so tenderly …” -Mary Oliver What is a shroud, what does this look like today, and why are more people choosing it? For most of human history, the dead were not enclosed in elaborate containers. They were wrapped. A shroud—simple cloth folded around the body—has been one of the oldest…
As life has grown more complex, so has the process of dying. End-of-life planning is therefore more important than ever. While it can feel overwhelming, the time and care invested now can greatly reduce stress, confusion, cost, and conflict for loved ones later. At its core, end-of-life planning involves attending to two broad areas—your possessions and responsibilities, and your health…