Document Title 1 Funerary & Sudden Death Guidance A guide for operational police officers, investigators and forensic staff relating to Pagan funerary traditions and dealing with sudden death in a Pagan context. Author Unknown Document number PPA Author PS Andrew Pardy © Copyright Version 1.4 Police Pagan Association Ratification date 18/10/2015 2015 Review date© 201501/11 Police/2018 Pagan Association 2 © 2015 Police Pagan Association Document Title 3 CONTENTS SECTION 1 Page 4 Location Disposal Offerings, Personal Items and Ritual Tools Funerary Ritual Mourning SECTION 2 Page 7 Sudden Death SECTION 3 Page 8 Ritual Weapons SECTION 4 Page 9 Pagan Symbols SECTION 5 Page 10 The Tyr Rune SECTION 6 Page 11 Document Control “Live a good, honourable life. When you think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time” DALAI LAMA © 2015 Police Pagan Association 4 Document Title SECTION 1 Location Most Pagan funerals will take place outdoors, either in an established memorial site or a location of significance to the deceased, such as a natural place which the individual shared an affinity with or where they regularly held or took part in ceremonies. Pagans may use areas to which the public are granted access for funerary rituals and may not make the landowner aware of their presence for such events, but are unlikely to overstep the usual bounds of access granted to the public. Pagan funerals which take place indoors will either be held at a non-denominational chapel or, in some cases, the home of the deceased. Disposal Cremation is the preferred funeral option of 70% of the UK population (1), and remains the most popular within the Pagan community. The cremation will usually form part of a ceremony held at a non-denominational chapel registered as a crematorium, but a further ceremony in which the ashes are scattered will usually take place in a location of significance to the deceased. Some Pagans will opt for a ‘green’ burial, in which a ceremony is conducted by a non- denominational minister or the high Priest/Priestess of the order or coven of which the deceased was part. A green burial will involve the use of a biodegradable coffin, in which the deceased is placed after being wrapped in a woollen shroud. This type of burial will usually occur in a non-denominational woodland cemetery, and often the traditional headstone is replaced by a tree planted on or at the head of the grave. In the event of a Pagan requesting a green burial the body is not embalmed or treated with chemicals, but may be washed with salt water prior to the interment. Approximately 150,000 people are buried in cemeteries and churchyards each year (2) and, although discretionary provision exists that allow part of a cemetery to be consecrated for use by particular denominations or religious bodies (3), Pagans are usually buried in a non- denominational cemetery or on private land, such as the garden of a privately owned house. Burials would only ever be carried out with the consent of the landowner, and in any case would adhere to the relevant legislation covering burials in areas other than a designated cemetery (4). (1) Page 5, Burial Law and Policy in the 21st Century – Home Office consultation document (2004) (2) Page 25, Burial Law and Policy in the 21st Century - The Way Forward – Ministry of Justice document (2007) (3) Page 22, Burial Law and Policy in the 21st Century – Home Office consultation document (2004) (4) Burial Act 1857, Burial Laws Amendment Act 1880, Public Health Act 1984. © 2015 Police Pagan Association Document Title 5 Offerings, Personal Items and Ritual Tools As with many other burials or cremations, personal items belonging to the deceased and offerings may be left by attendants, and in some occasions interred or cremated along with the deceased. Some of these items will hold a ritual significance, and these should be treated with the same respect as offerings left on any grave or burial site. Although ritual knives and tools may be used during the funerary ritual it is unlikely that any such items will be left on a crematory or burial site; it will be more likely that such personal and important tools are interred or cremated with the deceased, or are handed down to a family member, a close friend, or a member of their order or coven. The type of items used at a Pagan funerary ritual will vary depending on the path of the Pagans with whom the deceased was associated. The ritual itself will almost always involve an altar as a focal point within a defined area, which may or may not be physically marked by objects such as candles. The ritual tools used in Pagan rituals each serve a particular practical or representational purpose, and have often been blessed or dedicated and therefore should not been handled by anyone else unless explicit permission has been given or if it is deemed absolutely necessary to do so. Most Pagans will own a ritual dagger known as an Athame, and Druidic Pagans are also likely to own a ritual sickle known as a Boline. Some Heathen Pagans may own a ritual sword and/or a ritual dagger, and may refer to the latter as a Seax; pictorial examples of these can be found in Appendix A. Legislative guidance on the usage of sharply bladed or pointed articles in a public place provides a defence if whoever is found in possession of such an article can prove that they using it for religious reasons (5). Funerary Ritual Pagan funerary rituals can vary dependant on the location of the ritual, those involved, and any requests made by the deceased prior to their passing. Heathen Pagans prefer cremation but some, as with any other community, may still opt for burial. Heathens and Hindus are currently lobbying government in order to have funeral pyres recognised as a lawful funerary process, but these remain illegal unless it is carried out at sea, such as at the funeral of Peter Boyle, who died in Glasgow in 2009 and was set out to sea in a burning Viking long ship (6). Druidic Pagans are the most likely to opt for burial over cremation. When possible and practicable the deceased is usually made available to view by colleagues and relatives for a day before their interment. The funerary ritual is often carried out in a forested area by members of the order to which the deceased belong; they will often be dressed in ritual robes which are usually, but not always, white. (5) Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (6) Largs Viking Festival 2009 © 2015 Police Pagan Association 6 Document Title Funerary Ritual Most Pagan funerary rituals will involve some sort of singing, chanting and/or the reading of text; this may be accompanied by the partaking of wine or mead and the consumption of food such as bread. It is common for Pagans to cast a ritual circle and call on the four directions of the compass or the four elements during a ceremony. The ritual may consist of periods of meditation and reflection and will sometimes involve the burning of incense or oils and a ritual fire. Given the British climate and the comparative rarity of the practice, it is unlikely that Pagans will be naked at funerary rituals. Pagans do not carry out animal sacrifice or unlawful harm on others at any ritual. Pagans are inclusive in all aspects of their faith, so it will not be uncommon for non-Pagans and those of other faiths to be present at Pagan funerals. Mourning Although Pagans accept death as a part of the sacred life process and welcome it when appropriate, Pagans do not rejoice at the death of a loved one. Different Pagan paths have differing views on what the afterlife is, and although there is no concern with regards to punishment in the afterlife it is natural that the deceased will be missed and mourned for a time. Many Pagans believe that the spirit of the deceased departs upon death, but they remain an integral part of their community. The recently deceased and familial ancestors are remembered at the Pagan festival of Samhain, when candles are often lit in their honour and stories of their lives orated at social gatherings. In some Pagan households it remains a tradition to include the spirit of the recently deceased at a ritual meal, in which they will set a place and served food along with others at the table. Ancestors are of particular importance to those of the Heathen tradition. © 2015 Police Pagan Association Document Title 7 SECTION 2 Sudden Death When attending the sudden death of a member of the Pagan community or a Pagan household, officers should avoid touching any items which appear to be of ritual significance to the deceased. The presence of ritual items such as Athames should be considered sympathetically when considering the circumstances of a sudden death; all efforts should be made to avoid offence when speaking to relatives or friends of the deceased who may or may not know of their Pagan faith. Ritual items should not be used to harm another, and the seizing of such items from a Pagan household should only be undertaken if deemed absolutely necessary, and with the permission from the family of the deceased if appropriate. Family members will usually be aware of the funerary wishes of the deceased. If a ‘green’ burial is requested then the undertaker and morgue technicians should be made aware so that the corpse is not treated with chemicals.