Much like when a body is interred into the earth during a burial, the laying in represents a moment of transition. Family and friends have the option to join us for their person’s laying in.
About the Laying In
The event joins together the ritual and the practical, and often, religious and cultural practices are woven throughout. During the laying-in ceremony, the body is wrapped in a linen shroud and placed on a cradle. Friends and family place wood chips, alfalfa, and straw on and around it. Some place flowers, others moss from a favorite hiking spot. In one case, red bell peppers and purple onions from their person’s garden.
At the end of the ceremony, the body is placed into the Threshold Vessel. This is a doorway between the Gathering Space and the Greenhouse where the active composting takes place. Passing your person’s body through the Threshold Vessel marks their transition from a living person to ancestor, and begins their physical transformation from human to soil.
Options for Your Laying-In Ceremony
Recompose’s Services team will lead you through the planning process. They will work with you to answer questions like picking a day and time, who should be invited, and what music should be played during the laying in. If you are having a virtual ceremony, our staff will facilitate the streaming and provide additional assistance for you or your guests.
When you arrive at Recompose Seattle, you will be greeted by a member of our Services team who will guide you to the Gathering Space. Your person’s body will be in view when you walk into the Gathering Space, lying on a dark green bed we call a cradle, draped in a natural cloth. The cradle will be stationed in front of our white, hexagonal threshold vessel, which is a passageway to our vessel system. A Recompose Services Specialist will guide you through the ceremony from start to finish.
When all guests have arrived, the Services Specialist will begin the laying in.
- Your person’s body is present
- Family and friends, or Recompose staff, cover your person’s body in plant material
- With help from our staff, friends and family, gently move your person’s body into the threshold vessel
- Our staff closes the door to the vessel, and the ceremony is complete
A laying-in ceremony can be beautiful and complete with just these steps. You can also choose to add options like:
- A carbon cycle ceremony (see below)
- A candle lighting
- Guided breathing
- A faith leader or a special speaker
An Example of a Carbon Cycle Ceremony
One option for your laying in is a ceremony inspired by the carbon cycle. According to NOAA, “The carbon cycle is nature’s way of reusing carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere into organisms on Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again.” This ritual helps remind us of our place in that cycle and the transition of our person from their human form to a part of the natural collective.
Below is an example of how a carbon cycle ceremony can look. We will call the person who has died “Darby.”
Step 1: Light
We invite all participants to light a candle.
“Lighting a candle calls to mind the sun, warmth, photosynthesis, and the power of light. This flame calls our attention to the memory of Darby.”
Step 2: Breath
We invite all participants to bring their minds to their breath.
“By breathing, we connect with life itself. Every single living thing breathes, and each breath releases carbon back into the cycle. Let each breath we take right now ground us in this moment.”
Step 3: Plants
We gently cover Darby’s body with plant material, including wood chips and straw.
As we cover Darby’s body with these plants, we are aware of the beautiful gift she is giving to the earth. These plants will power her body’s transformation into soil.”
Step 4: Earth
We place the plant-covered cradle into a Recompose vessel and close the door.
“This moment provides an opportunity to offer words of memory and farewell, knowing that it is now time for the familiar form and shape of Darby to change. We hold in our hearts a duality: both the immense difficulty and the immense beauty in knowing that Darby’s molecules will be transformed and incorporated back into life.
Darby, thank you for your time with us and your beautiful gift to the planet.” The laying-in ceremony is complete.
Additional Options
- Special music chosen by you or Recompose staff
- A photo slideshow
- Guest speakers
- Flowers or other plants to send with your person
- Time of sharing
- Religious leaders or outside celebrants
- Poetry readings, scripture, song, or prayer