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Shine On Brightly announces a new line of memorial jewelry by artist Silvia Engel. The Round Embrace Pendant is a stylish piece of cremation jewelry that is abound in brilliant color. The Small Green-Blue Classic Pendant is a 1″ square piece that is rich in healing blues and greens. The Small Eternity Pendant is also square in shape, but shimmers with an irridescence that shines and glows.

This cremation jewelry can be designed in two ways; with visible ashes (viewed from the back of the pendant) or with hidden ashes (fired into the glass). After you place your order online, you will be contacted by a Shine On Brightly representative to determine your choice. You will then receive a vial with instructions for sending ashes directly to the artist.

We love hearing from our customers. A Shine On Brightly customer wrote to us this week:

“I recently received a product I ordered from
you. I wanted to thank you so much for your great
service and quality of the product. I felt a great sense of trust
dealing with you and your company and it is much appreciated (also
great customer service and VERY quick and responsive)!”
~JH

Shine On Brightly adds news works to the already stellar collection of memorial art pieces. See new ceramic urns, metal sculptural keepsake urns, and textile/biodegradable urns.

Although Shine On Brightly does incorporate ashes into paintings when desired, this is a new twist on that concept. This artist will exchange one of his mosaic-style works for donated ashes. Interesting concept. Read about it here. http://bit.ly/cyNlrZ

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live…the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’~ Jack Kerouac, On The Road

We walk through half our life
as if it were a fever dream.

barely touching the ground,

our eyes half open
our heart half closed

Not half knowing who we are
we watch the ghost of us drift
from room to room
through friends and lovers
never quite as real as advertised.

Not saying half we mean
or meaning half we say
we dream ourselves
from birth to birth
seeking some true self.

Until the fever breaks
and the heart can not abide
a moment longer
as
the rest of us awakens, summoned from the dream,
not half caring for anything but love.

Today I read a passage on Death and Dying by Thich Nhat Hanh that’s definitely worth sharing. It gives me a beautiful vantage point from which to view life and death.

“When a cloud is about to become rain, if the cloud knows it is not going to die, it is going to be transformed into rain then it would not be afraid at all. To be a cloud in the sky is very beautiful. But to be the rain, falling on the grass, is also very beautiful. And with that kind of knowledge, a cloud is not afraid of dying. It is impossible for a cloud to die. A cloud can only become the rain, the snow, or the ice. A cloud can never die, and become nothing.”

The new trend in spending money is to buy things that are painstakingly hand built instead of efficiently mass produced. It might not be a better price than what you could buy at Target, but the very fact that you can pay for an artisan to create it, an artist to design it, a talented worker to bring it to life–that act makes a powerful statement about what you can afford and what’s important to you. Instead of a bigger house, it’s a house that’s built from scratch by craftsmen. Instead of a bigger steak, it’s a handmade dish of local poached vegetables…

I’ve had two momentous experiences with music this week. I’m currently in New York, one of my very favorite places. My beloved sister-in-law is battling terminal cancer with incredible tenacity and grace. I am now convinced that allowing ourselves to be enveloped by the love that surrounds a person at the end of a life is one of the most powerful opportunities for enriching our earthly lives.

My sister-in-law is currently basking in the profound and boundless love of her children, family, and friends. Three nights ago, her children arranged for the Assistant Julliard String Quartet to play in their small NY apartment. The musicians performed Mozart and Beethoven. I am an amateur musician and a passionate fan of music. I’ve attended some indescribably wonderful performances during my life, and have been enriched and grateful every time. They’ve all added to the richness of life in so many ways.

The other night, as soon as the strings began to sing, I was overcome with tears. I became completely filled with emotion and pathos. Quite honestly, it was overwhelming, yet gorgeous and wonderful at the same time. I closed my eyes several times so that I could allow the melodies, harmonies, and emotional expression to fill my mind and heart. I will never forget this performance, and add it to the list of events/experiences for which I am eternally grateful.

The next day, while walking through a bustling subway station, I noticed several men assembling musical instruments in preparation for a spontaneous performance. A little later on, I walked past them again. They were in full swing - the electric guitar, trombone, sax, drummer, and 2 trumpeters. Their sound was energetic, upbeat, and fun. I looked around and took note that most faces walking by broke into smile. They were transformed by this quick musical moment.

So I write this as a reminder to myself and to anyone who reads this, to include music in our everyday lives. It helps us to feel, to emote, to enjoy, to dance. And really, we need it the way we need food, air, and water, to experience life.