New: The Walking Stick Scattering Urn

Top of the walking stick scattering urn.

Our friend Ty's father loved everything about the historic Battle of Hastings. Soon after his death, Ty carried his father's cremains on a flight from New York to London, rented a car and set about surreptitiously scattering his dad's ashes on the great battlefield in a manner reminiscent of the tunnel soil scattering scenes in that old James Garner-Steve McQueen WWII movie "The Great Escape," with little bits of ash dispensed through Ty's pockets and down his pants legs. 

But now, there is a better way! Meet the Walking Stick Scattering Urn, a slender, hollow hiking staff that will hold and scatter cremains as you walk and gently tap the base of it. Created by clever folks in the Netherlands who clearly walk in the woods more than we do, this product seems practical, thoughtful and sweet. True, you don't really need to buy anything to scatter cremains straight out of the crematory's box, and TheInspiredFuneral.com isn't about coaxing you into spending money you don't have, but this strikes us as another nice way to find ceremony and meaning in the act of melding death with the proper order of thing in the natural world. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, in fact, that "there is no death in nature." What is dead can be foster new life. The Walking Urn has been performing well at the funeral trade shows. Here's an interview the intrepid Gail Rubin filmed with one of the walking stick's promoters. And here's where you can guide your funeral director into getting it for you. Price may range from $150-$200, depending upon region and funeral home.

As you walk and tap the stick on the ground, cremated remains are neatly released.