Loading... Please wait...
Crestone End of Life Project
‘The art of living well and the art of dying well are one.’
Crestone, Colorado is a remote, quiet and unique community nestled at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Known for its diverse array of spiritual centers, it is also home to the Crestone End of Life Project (CEOLP), a non-denominational, not-for-profit group that supports informed expression and fulfillment of community members’ end-of-life wishes.
CEOLP supports the right to die at home or to have one’s body transported home after death; the right to not be embalmed; the right for family and friends, with the support of CEOLP volunteers, to care for the body of a deceased loved one and to keep the body in the home for up to 72 hours; and the right to choose green burial at the Crestone Cemetary or open-air cremation at CEOLP’s legal cremation site as options for the body’s final disposition.
In the words of Crestone End Of Life Project volunteer Kathleen Willow: “Just as birthing babies at home and dying at home have returned as viable life choices initially lost to a great degree with the modernization of this society, so caring for our deceased loved ones is slowly returning to its rightful place as an alternative to funeral home care.”
Floracopeia is honored to be a part of the Crestone End of Life Project.
Since time immemorial, resins such as frankincense and myrrh and woods such as sandalwood, agarwood and palo santo, have been considered the most sacred of all botanical aromatic treasures. These have been used as an integral part of ceremonies to assist the dying, to care for the body after death, and in cremation rites.
As a supporter of CEOLP, Floracopeia donates precious resins, woods, and essential oils for the care of the deceased and for use in the cremation ceremonies.
Volunteers from CEOLP utilize Floracopeia’s collection of aromatic treasures in their care of the deceased. Beginning with the face, the body is ritually bathed using a sea sponge and warm scented water. It is then compassionately anointed with one or more of our most sacred essential oils. This timeless ritual and the presence of the spiritual fragrances is deeply healing for the participating family members.At cremations the resins, woods and oils provided by Floracopeia are again used ceremonially, offering the blessings of ancient fragrances to assist the grieving and add beauty to the prayers for the beloved.
Click the links below to watch a short documentary film about the CEOLP and Floracopeia founder David Crow speaking on the project. There are three videos in total. Enjoy.
Crestone End of Life Documentary
David Crow speaks about the Crestone End Of Life Project (part one)…
David Crow speaks about the Crestone End Of Life Project (part two)…
Click Here to visit the Crestone End Of Life Project Webpage
Photo Credit: Martin Macaulay
