Essay

ArtsPiece: Capsula Mundi

Capsula Mundi: "How Do You Want to Be Remembered?"

Capsula Mundi Burial Pod. Image Credit: Capsula Mundi Facebook

The emergence of spring alway serves as a reminder to me of the natural passage of life, as I believe it does for many people. As we watch the natural world come awake from the dormant time of winter, it's understandable for us to feel a quickening and renewal of life. The world seems new and, once again, alive with possibilities. As part of our exploration of "time," I asked each of you to read an article by Cecil Helman, titled "Cultural Aspects of Time and Ageing (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1369268/pdf/6-7400402.pdf) ," in which the author describes a series of what he labels as forms of "cultural" time. There is one form of time in this list that resonates very clearly with my musings about the significance of spring: Calendrical Time but there are two additional forms (Developmental and Social Rebirth) that can also be considered in relationship to the awakening and rebirth represented by spring and, most directly, with the subject of this latest ArtPiece.

The subject of this ArtPiece, Capsula Mundi (http://www.capsulamundi.it/en/) , is a project intended by its designers to transform the way that society thinks about death and to provide an alternative means for us to remember our loved ones. In many societies, it is traditional or customary for bodies to be buried in the ground in a cemetery and then the individual is commemorated by the placement of some kind of memorial over the grave that is often made of stone and engraved with details of the person's life or identity. Cemeteries become a collection of hardscape—grave stones of various sizes, colors, and shapes that mourners periodically visit to honor the dead. The designers behind Capsula Mundi

shapes that mourners periodically visit to honor the dead. The designers behind Capsula Mundi (http://www.capsulamundi.it/en/) wish to transform the "hardscapes" of cemeteries into forests of remembrances—lush landscapes of trees that will serve as living memorials for the loved ones of the deceased to visit and enjoy as a celebration of the life of their loved one.

What Is Capsula Mundi?

Capsula Mundi - Burial Pods

A brief video that describes the process of encapsulation

The "Project" area of the Capsula Mundi (http://www.capsulamundi.it/en/project/) website provides more information about how the project came about and its intended message; the description below, however, explains one of the basic questions that comes up when people are introduced to the project: "Why a "pod" shape was chosen and how does it serve as a "seed" for a renewal of life?"

Capsula Mundi is a cultural and broad-based project, which envisions a different approach to the way we think about death. It's an egg-shaped pod, an ancient and perfect form, made of biodegradable material, where our departed loved ones are placed for burial. Ashes will be held in small Capsulas while bodies will be laid down in a fetal position in larger pods. The pod will then be buried as a seed in the earth. A tree, chosen in life by the deceased, will be planted on top of it and serve as a memorial for the departed and as a legacy for posterity and the future of our planet. Family and friends will continue to care for the tree as it grows. Cemeteries will acquire a new look and, instead of the cold grey landscape we see today, they will grow into vibrant woodlands, sacred forests. (Source: http://www.capsulamundi.it/en/project/ (http://www.capsulamundi.it/en/project/) )

Capsula Mundi Designers Raoul Bretzel and Anna Citelli in Their Own Words

Capsula Mundi Designers: Raoul Bretzel and Anna Citelli

Statement from the designers about the origins of the Capsula Mundi Project (http://www.capsulamundi.it/en/) :

The Capsula Mundi project arose following a deep reflection on the approach to the death of our society, which is dealt with more as a taboo to be denied than a natural passage of life. We wanted to contribute to a cultural change in order to re-balance our relationship with this unavoidable transition. We need to learn to talk about death in a natural way, as one of the multiple aspects of life, to exchange opinions and increase awareness....On this path, we are meeting people and organizations that share the same desire of change and confrontation, to understand how we can “live the death” in a serene and aware way...Death is a natural and inevitable step but for those who have lost a close relative, the loss is large. Can we be prepared to deal with death and loss as we deal with other significant changes in our lives? Can we make decisions about death that are in tune with the values by which we have lived our lives and that respect the environment?...We live by looking at the future and taking care of the present. This brought us to think about a tree. A tree is a legacy, an investment in the future. Our small but significant contribution, a symbol of care and protection. A small gesture to fight for climate change and to thank the earth that hosted us." Source: http://www.capsulamundi.it/en/live-the-death-an-ecological-and-natural-approach/ (http://www.capsulamundi.it/en/live-the-death-an-ecological-and-natural-approach/)

Capsula Mundi - redesigning the co6n | Anna Citelli & Raou…

Capsula Mundi Designers Raoul Bretzel and Anna Citelli discuss their project at TedX Crocetta

Additional Sources for Information about Capsula Mundi

Would You Opt for an Organic Burial Pod? (http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/03/24/471630242/would-you-opt-for-an-organic-pod-burial) Goodbye Coffins! (http://www.davidwolfe.com/goodbye-coffins-these-organic-burial-pods-will-turn- you-into-a-tree-when-you-die/) These Startups Want to Kill the Coffin (http://fusion.net/story/273934/funeral-startups-green-natural- burials/) Capsula Mundi (on Facebook) (https://www.facebook.com/Capsula-Mundi-391107020996379/) You Could Turn Your Dead Body into a Tree... (http://www.techinsider.io/capsula-mundi-burial- pods-green-burial-conservation-2015-11)