Bye-Bye Coffins

          Many people are uncomfortable with the thought of death and never being able to see their loved ones again.  If there was a way you could continue to visit a living remnant of your loved ones after they’ve died; would you do it?  A way to be immortal in a sense that may not be what we would normally think of, to go on living not as a human being but as a new form of life.  Well this can now be a reality with Capsula Mundi, an organic burial concept created by Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel.        

This organic burial concept takes a new look at death.  The body is put in the fetal position within a biodegradable pod.  This idea puts the body in a state much like the state we are in during our time in the womb.  In this sense they are treating death not as an end to one’s existence but more like a rebirth into a new form.  The biodegradable pod is shaped much like a seed of which a tree of your choice is planted directly above.  In planting the tree directly above the pod, it allows the roots to grow and absorb the nutrients from the pod and the degrading body.

Immortality can have many different ideas or outlets, reincarnation being one of them.  Reincarnation or re-embodiment can be defined as, “a rebirth of the soul; the belief that the soul, upon death of the body, comes back to earth in another body or form” (Dictionary.com).   Although this does not bring life into a new physical body, it does create new life in a living organism of which contributes to the Earth’s ecosystem.

This response to death would be a way for people to give back to the ecosystem that once sustained us during human life.  As humans we naturally take and take from our environment in order to live.  Here we are able to give back some of what we have taken.  Trees take in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen, of which most living organisms need in order to survive.  This allows us to contribute to the continuation of life around us.  Trees also create homes for other species, such as birds, chipmunks, squirrels, etc. so as in human form we cut down trees to make our own homes, we can now create a home for a new organism.                 

“A cemetery will no longer be full of tombstones and will become a sacred forest” (Capsula Mundi).  A sacred forest rather than a cemetery will allow family and friends to come and visit their loved ones in a less threatening environment.  I believe the experience of a loved one passing would be less frightening if people had a living, breathing, tangible entity that they were able to visit.  A place where people can go and remember their loved ones.  Imagine taking refuge under the shade of a tree that is now your loved one.  Families can go and have a picnic, or string up a tire swing and enjoy a sunny day.  You are able to watch the tree grow and mature as it changes with the seasons.  I believe that this would shed a whole new light on the grieving process; it would be a less intimidating and upsetting experience.  Children could go and learn about the trees and their role in nature, allowing a spiritual bond between generations to occur.

Death is a mysterious, delicate and inevitable step. The dead cannot be just a technical problem; it cannot be treated as a taboo. Regardless of the religion and culture we belong to, death is a biological phenomenon; it’s the same thing for everyone. No designer ever thinks of a coffin but this becomes a way of reflecting on how distant we are from Mother Nature. (Capsula Mundi)

The cycle of life would have a new meaning as well, as we are used to (although frightened by) the idea of being born, living and dying, but with this concept that doesn’t have to be the case anymore.  Each individual cycle does not have to end with death; we can now be recycled into a new form. 

            Unfortunately you can’t go out and pick out your tree just yet, as Capsula Mundi is still only an idea and not an up and running company.  But it is an interesting alternative to dealing with death, one that is much less frightening.  This is a concept that could change our entire outlook as human beings on death and the grieving process.  It would allow us to become one with nature and give back to the planet that sustains our mortal lives.  It is a much more economically sensible idea, as it is something that will most likely be available to the masses rather than strictly to the wealthy.  Most importantly, this idea would allow humans to finally obtain immortality through something more than legacy; a tangible sense of immortality.  If you would like to learn more about this idea please visit, http://www.capsulamundi.it.