art and grief – End of Life University

About my guest:

Today’s guest is Nell Aburto, a portrait photographer based in Minneapolis MN who offers funeral and memorial photography, which is largely unheard of in this industry. She discusses why people might want to consider hiring a photographer for a funeral service, the benefits of having a photographic record of such a celebration, and what it’s like to work in this profession. Learn more at her website:

In this episode:

How Nell was inspired to specialize in funeral photography

Why it’s nearly impossible for family members to take photographs of a funeral or memorial service

How it is still considered taboo by some people to take photos at funerals

The benefits she experiences from this work

How photographs are an important part of family history

How funeral photography can help us normalize death as part of life

Why funerals can be a time of transformation and healing

Learn about making beautiful memorial art as way of navigating grief and honoring loved ones.

“Ian McCartor, hospice nurse and founder of The Ash Rose project, smiling in a natural setting, wearing a dark shirt.”

My guest Ian McCartor is a hospice nurse, musician, and founder of The Ash Rose, a project that transforms the ashes of loved ones into beautiful rose-shaped keepsakes. In this episode, Ian shares how his work helps individuals navigate grief by creating tangible symbols of remembrance and healing. Ian shares his journey from hospice care to creating tangible symbols of remembrance, highlighting how art and creativity can aid in the grieving process. He delves into the inspiration behind The Ash Rose, the impact it has had on individuals coping with loss, and the broader implications of integrating beauty into end-of-life rituals. Learn more at his website:

theashrose.org

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

Ian’s journey from hospice nursing to creating The Ash Rose
The inspiration behind transforming ashes into rose-shaped keepsakes
How art and creativity can play a role in the grieving process
Stories of individuals who have found solace through The Ash Rose
The importance of honoring loved ones in unique and personal ways
Ian’s perspective on the intersection of grief, beauty, and healing

“Out of the ashes, something beautiful can still grow.”
Ian Mccartor

Links mentioned in this episode:

Register for free workshop on Sacred Activism for Soulcare Providers OR go to: tinyurl.com/sacredactivismworkshop
See the Vogue article on Grief Travel my work was mentioned in! (This is the topic of the new book I’m working on – very exciting!)
NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving
Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death
Get EOLU Podcast Merch here
Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here
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Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously!
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