How to Scatter Ashes: Methods Available

Scattering Ashes Guide 2021: Ideas, Permits, The Ceremony, & More
Scattering ashes is often thought to be a spiritual act for setting one free. It provides an opportunity to memorialize them in a manner that is unique only to him or her.

If you’re seeking advice about scattering, this guide will take you through everything you need to know. We’ll go through all the options, such as the best places and methods of scattering the ashes.

We will also discuss the legalities, permits and ideas on ceremonies that you may want to perform while spreading the ashes.

Where to Scatter Ashes: Best Ideas and Places

After the cremation has taken place, there’s almost an infinite of places you can think of to scatter the ashes.

Below are some of the most popular, which will hopefully aid you in coming up with the perfect place for your special loved one.

Scattering at Sea
Scattering ashes at sea is a very popular method.

You may think of pouring the ashes from an urn into a body of water from a boat, but there’s a few ways of going about it.

Hiring a company
Firstly, there’s a few boat companies out there that specialise in sea scattering ceremonies.

Doing it yourself

Biodegradable Urn

If you’re looking for something a little less elaborate and formal, you just need to find a body of water to release the ashes.

In this case, we recommend using a biodegradable urn for water.

These urns can be in the shape of a flower or seashell, and are specifically designed to beautifully float and slowly dissolve in the water.

On Private Property
Wildflower Field

You may want to scatter the cremains on the property where you or a family member lives. This could provide comfort and a sense that their spirit is still there looking after the family.

Perhaps someone owns a beautiful piece of property on a lake or one that is covered in wild flowers, what a perfect location to spend eternity.

In most cases, there is no problem with scattering ashes on private property, providing you have permission from the landowner.

On Public Property

The deceased may have requested to be in a place of nature where they loved to hunt or hike, such as a national park.

A person who loved to fish would most likely desire their favorite fishing hole as a place to rest.

Perhaps a climber’s only wish was to be scattered from a mountain peak where they climbed.

It’s not unusual for a huge baseball or football fan to desire that their remains are scattered on the field of their favorite team.

Do your own research
Any of these suggestions will likely take place on public property and might necessitate some research about whether it is legal to scatter there.

Scattering Gardens

Fairmount Scattering Garden

A serene and spiritual event, this is a charming method for laying your beloved person to rest.

Normally located at a crematorium or cemetery, these lovely gardens are set aside specifically for the scattering of ashes.

Many families choose to have a memorial service at the scattering.

Every facility is different, but some offer markers, such as plaques, plants, statues, or other memorials representing the presence of the loved one that lies there.

Aerial scattering

Aerial Scattering by Homeward Bound

This method has increasingly grown in popularity over the past few years. Your loved one may have been a pilot, or they simply wanted to be scattered from up high.

Finding a company
Many pilots now specialize in this procedure.

Spreading cremains from a plane typically blows them back into the passenger’s faces.

For that reason, most of these pilots have a special apparatus attached to the plane, which efficiently showers the ashes over the requested area.

Drone scattering

Yet another heavenly farewell, we continually hear more about drones, so why shouldn’t it be used at the end of life.

Again, a solution to not getting cremains blown back in your face, drones now do the spreading while friends and family watch from the safety of the ground.

In most cases they can also take photos or videos of the event.

How to Scatter Ashes: Methods Available

Below are a few of the different modes of scattering ashes in addition to the ones we have discussed thus far:

Casting Ashes
This is probably what comes to mind when thinking about scattering ashes.

It’s performed either by hand or with a scattering urn.

Gail Rubin has an informative video on the best method for casting ashes.

Trenching Ashes
Limited only by your imagination, this involves digging a trench of fairly shallow depth in the ground or sand.

It can be a straight trench or in any design you desire. The ashes are then poured into the area and the dirt or sand is pushed or raked over the ashes.

This can be performed with the mourners circled around the area. At night with candles would also be a nice touch.

Another appealing approach is to do this close to a body of water so that the tide will come in and gradually take remains away.

Ringing Ashes

Scattering Ashes Guide 2021: Ideas, Permits, The Ceremony, & More
Scattering ashes is often thought to be a spiritual act for setting one free. It provides an opportunity to memorialize them in a manner that is unique only to him or her.

If you’re seeking advice about scattering, this guide will take you through everything you need to know. We’ll go through all the options, such as the best places and methods of scattering the ashes.

We will also discuss the legalities, permits and ideas on ceremonies that you may want to perform while spreading the ashes.

Where to Scatter Ashes: Best Ideas and Places

After the cremation has taken place, there’s almost an infinite of places you can think of to scatter the ashes.

Below are some of the most popular, which will hopefully aid you in coming up with the perfect place for your special loved one.

Scattering at Sea
Scattering ashes at sea is a very popular method.

You may think of pouring the ashes from an urn into a body of water from a boat, but there’s a few ways of going about it.

Hiring a company
Firstly, there’s a few boat companies out there that specialise in sea scattering ceremonies.

Doing it yourself

Biodegradable Urn

If you’re looking for something a little less elaborate and formal, you just need to find a body of water to release the ashes.

In this case, we recommend using a biodegradable urn for water.

These urns can be in the shape of a flower or seashell, and are specifically designed to beautifully float and slowly dissolve in the water.

On Private Property
Wildflower Field

You may want to scatter the cremains on the property where you or a family member lives. This could provide comfort and a sense that their spirit is still there looking after the family.

Perhaps someone owns a beautiful piece of property on a lake or one that is covered in wild flowers, what a perfect location to spend eternity.

In most cases, there is no problem with scattering ashes on private property, providing you have permission from the landowner.

On Public Property

The deceased may have requested to be in a place of nature where they loved to hunt or hike, such as a national park.

A person who loved to fish would most likely desire their favorite fishing hole as a place to rest.

Perhaps a climber’s only wish was to be scattered from a mountain peak where they climbed.

It’s not unusual for a huge baseball or football fan to desire that their remains are scattered on the field of their favorite team.

Do your own research
Any of these suggestions will likely take place on public property and might necessitate some research about whether it is legal to scatter there.

Scattering Gardens

Fairmount Scattering Garden

A serene and spiritual event, this is a charming method for laying your beloved person to rest.

Normally located at a crematorium or cemetery, these lovely gardens are set aside specifically for the scattering of ashes.

Many families choose to have a memorial service at the scattering.

Every facility is different, but some offer markers, such as plaques, plants, statues, or other memorials representing the presence of the loved one that lies there.

Aerial scattering

Aerial Scattering by Homeward Bound

This method has increasingly grown in popularity over the past few years. Your loved one may have been a pilot, or they simply wanted to be scattered from up high.

Finding a company
Many pilots now specialize in this procedure.

Spreading cremains from a plane typically blows them back into the passenger’s faces.

For that reason, most of these pilots have a special apparatus attached to the plane, which efficiently showers the ashes over the requested area.

Drone scattering

Yet another heavenly farewell, we continually hear more about drones, so why shouldn’t it be used at the end of life.

Again, a solution to not getting cremains blown back in your face, drones now do the spreading while friends and family watch from the safety of the ground.

In most cases they can also take photos or videos of the event.

How to Scatter Ashes: Methods Available

Below are a few of the different modes of scattering ashes in addition to the ones we have discussed thus far:

Casting Ashes
This is probably what comes to mind when thinking about scattering ashes.

It’s performed either by hand or with a scattering urn.

Gail Rubin has an informative video on the best method for casting ashes.

Trenching Ashes
Limited only by your imagination, this involves digging a trench of fairly shallow depth in the ground or sand.

It can be a straight trench or in any design you desire. The ashes are then poured into the area and the dirt or sand is pushed or raked over the ashes.

This can be performed with the mourners circled around the area. At night with candles would also be a nice touch.

Another appealing approach is to do this close to a body of water so that the tide will come in and gradually take remains away.

Ringing Ashes
Ash Scattering in the Ocean

As the name infers, this is the act of scattering the ashes around an object.

In many cases the object is a tree, special mementos belonging to the passed one, or a memorial that marks the place of the scattering.

This could involve each of the mourners stepping inside the circle, one at a time, and saying a few words or reading something special.

Again, it depends on your own inspirations or how the deceased wished it to come about.