I live in the US where aging is shameful, grieving is rude, and death is commodified. I don’t think this perspective should be carried over. So, how could solarpunks do things differently?
My current vision involves a lunarpunk monastery. Gone are sterile funeral homes, silent graveyards, dogma and taboo. Instead, an eclectic community of death doulas serving others through the finality. The bodies of the dead become part of an ever expanding ancestral forest. A living cemetery for the living.
Housed would be thanatologists of every flavor: bookworms, artists, health practitioners, naturalists, mystics, and more. Maintaining libraries, gardens, and temples for public use. Facilitating psychedelic rituals for those with terminal illness and the bereaved. Providing funeral rites and hospice care. Hosting moonlit festivals, discussions, and support groups.
Wearing mothlike robes. Playing chimes at sundown corresponding to the phase of the moon. But I digress…
How do you imagine death and dying in a solarpunk society? Is the great unknown in the realm of lunarpunk?
I love this vision and find it and find the comments from the community inspiring. I live in the US as well and one thing I think would supplement the “discussions, and support groups” you’ve mentioned in a lunarpunk world might be nighttime, outdoor death cafes. I’m reminded of this article from several years ago centered around a death cafe that takes place in Mount Auburn Cemetery In Watertown, MA. This article gives a good overview of what a death cafe is for those unaware. We could certainly lead the path to a lunarpunk/solarpunk future by having these today in our communities and in many ways this thread is part of that.
Exactly, yes! No stuffiness or stigma. Conversations over hot beverages in a cozy room, during batwatching picnics, or while stargazing.
Searching Death Cafes led to articles about Coffin Clubs, people coming together to build and decorate coffins for themselves and each other. On how the first one got started: