We explore the profound world of rituals and grief with author and Earth artist Day Schildkret, known for his transformative books Morning Altars and Hello, Goodbye.

As funeral traditions evolve, personalized memorials, green burials, and creative send-offs are becoming more common. From space cremation to biodegradable pods, there’s a growing trend of unique, meaningful final tributes.

Jean Luis Borges, an Argentine literary giant born in 1899, excelled in fiction, essays, and poetry, exploring deep connections to and fascination with the dynamics of being.

Love Notes to Grievers by Angela E. Morris provides comfort and wisdom through grief. This heartfelt collection of love notes, memories, and essays offers a companion for those navigating loss.

Seattle artist Rose Briar Bates, known for ephemeral art, created a water ballet as her final request. Friends honored her with a joyful, creative memorial, celebrating her life with a playful public performance.

Dr. Mannix, a palliative care specialist, reflects on "ordinary dying" in her writing, aiming to help others understand the process and approach it with compassion, while balancing joy and grief.

Music thanatology uses harp and voice at bedside to ease patients' physical symptoms, offering love and support during end-of-life moments. Certified thanatologists help create peaceful, compassionate transitions.

In Hong Kong, overcrowded columbaria and high costs leave families struggling to find a place for ashes. This issue, shared by other cities like New York and Tokyo, is prompting innovative solutions for interment.

306 Hollywood, a film by Jonathan and Elan Bogarin, creatively explores memory, loss, and family through a magical realist lens. The siblings' documentary honors their grandmother, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary ones.

Peter Cunningham, a talented photographer known for capturing rock stars and legends, is a quiet yet profound presence. His chapter on mortality from The Land of the Living inspired Bevival's creative spotlight.

Gallows humor, especially around death, offers a psychological distance that helps cope with morbid topics. For doctors, it can provide relief from grief, but must be used cautiously to avoid harm.

Francis Weller emphasizes grief's need to be witnessed. As a therapist for 40 years, he believes grief connects all stories. He advocates for embracing all emotions and living fully, with reverence.

In South Korea, mock funerals let participants face death in a coffin to gain a new perspective on life. For some, it’s a way to cope with terminal illness or suicidal thoughts, offering emotional relief.

Bruce Wilson, a cardiologist turned hospice doctor, advocated for a cultural shift in how we view death, emphasizing its naturalness. After his own diagnosis, he embraced gratitude, finding peace in his end-of-life plans.

In The Grieving Brain, neuroscientist Mary-Frances O’Connor explains grief’s impact on the brain, offering insights into its process. Her research bridges science and personal experience to better understand loss.

Stephen Jenkinson challenges modern culture’s avoidance of death, advocating for embracing mortality to fully live. He stresses rituals, interconnectedness, and leaving meaningful stories for future generations.

Catherine Panebianco's series No Memory is Ever Alone transforms old slides into a living memory. Tiny Inventions' animated short Negative Space explores the emotional bond between father and son.

Patricia Hampl reflects on the joys of aging in her New York Times essay, embracing the "third stage" of life. She finds that real life, beyond effort and accomplishment, reveals itself in simplicity and ease.

H.M. Leona's memoir You Are Where I Am reflects her resilience, exploring themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and redemption. Her story offers a soothing, impactful message for the world today.

Mark Vanhoenacker created a "singing will," a playlist of music to comfort a dying friend. Music's emotional power can reach the dying, and many now curate playlists to guide them into the next life.