Sacred Shrouding
&
Ceremonies
Shrouding - The Sacred Art
Here at Sacred Shrouding we understand the pain of losing a loved one, whether it is a parent, child, family member, friend or pet. The shock of sudden death or at the end of a terminal illness can leave us with feelings of pain, disbelief and even anger.
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To have time with your loved one, to sit with them, talk to them and lovingly shroud them at home is a healing journey through the grief and loss.
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During the shrouding ceremony your loved one is washed, oiled and shrouded in a beautiful sacred ceremony where their life is honoured and celebrated.
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We are here to help and guide you in the art of shrouding.
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Love is at the centre of all our work.
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Death Has Occurred
What Happens Next?
Home led funerals are legal in the United Kingdom. We at Sacred Shrouding believe that death is not the final experience of the 'last breath' but a metamorphosis that extends for up to three days after.
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Immediately after the 'last breath' has been taken, the soul begins to separate from the body and moves on to the next stage of its journey.
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During this transition a ceremony is held for the deceased at home which enables the bereaved to spend time with their loved one. This eases the grieving process and allows you to gently come to terms with your loss.
Preparing Your Ceremony
Honouring The Deceased
We understand how devastated, sad and shocked you are feeling at the loss of your loved one, however prepared you felt before their death.
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Through my own experience of burying my parents, I feel that I could have eased my grieving process if I had honoured them by keeping them at home and lovingly shrouding their bodies.
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I did not know that it was possible to look after a loved-one at home. If so, I would have asked my funeral director to bring the body to my house from the hospital, and then return for the body 3 days later where they would be looked after by the funeral director until they were buried. Some funeral directors will work with you to make these arrangements.
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To lay out the body, ceremonially wash, oil and talk to them is a very healing process and enables you to move towards acceptance.
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Shrouding The Body
Giving Peace of Mind
A shroud is simply the material that is wrapped around a person in death - to make them ready for burial or cremation.
Death which had once been accepted as just another part of life, eventually became hidden behind the closed doors of funeral parlours, only spoken about in reverential tones and whispers.
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The shrouding process includes washing the deceased at home, then oiling and wrapping them in the shroud.
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It is no longer necessary to hand over all of the care of our loved ones to a funeral director; we can now look after our loved ones at the end in the way we would like to be cared for.
Supporting You
How we can help
We offer support and guidance to meet the needs of the family during the preparation and organisation of the home part of the funeral. We encourage you to work with us during the washing, oiling and shrouding of your loved one. We discuss how you wish to bring meaning to the ceremony, such as the use of poems, music, prayers or meditations to celebrate and honour the life of your loved one.
You are thinking about shrouding your loved one. Please contact me via email for an initial consultation where we will discuss your plans for the funeral to incorporate a shrouding ceremony.
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You may decide to use the services of a funeral director and will need to make sure that they are happy to work with you and agree the services you need such as picking up the body form the hospital, nursing home or coroner's office and bringing them to your home. You can also agree the day that the funeral director will pick up your loved one to take to their premises to wait for the final burial/cremation ceremony.
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My beautiful cat Mason died unexpectedly at home. I knew that washing, oiling and shrouding him in a sacred ceremony would help my grieving process. I felt that I had honoured his life and death and truly respected his passing with this ceremony.
Ruth
