What are the different ways in which cremated remains can be scattered?

Cremation provides you with a number of unique ways to honor your deceased loved one. One of the most popular options is to inurn the cremated remains in a columbarium, allowing a permanent resting place where you and other family members can come to pay respects. Still another option is to scatter the ashes in a significant location. Of course, it is possible to do both of these things—scattering some of the ashes and memorializing the rest.

There are some laws and ordinances that restrict where cremated remains may be scattered, but so long as you speak with your funeral director about securing the proper permissions, you can usually find a legal way to fully honor your loved one’s wishes.

As for how you scatter the ashes, the most popular method is called casting—sprinkling the ashes over the sea or the ground in a way that reflects your “letting go.”

Another popular option is called trenching. Here, you literally build a shallow trench in the ground somewhere, and then place cremated remains within that trench. The cremated remains are then covered with soil. This is meant to symbolize your loved one returning to the earth.

Raking is another option; this means gently scattering the remains amidst the soil and allowing those remains to be intermingled with the natural environment—contributing to the fertilization of flowers and plants.

You can always speak to your funeral director about these methods, who can advise you on your options both for scattering and memorializing cremated remains. And of course, it’s also wise to speak with your family members to make sure you’re all on the same page about how to appropriately honor your deceased loved one.