Norway’s first registered shamanistic faith community

Funeral

A shamanic funeral ceremony – a dignified farewell that accompanies the departed into the spirit world.

Gravferd – sjamanistisk seremoni

Sjamanistisk Forbund offers funeral ceremonies as part of life's great transitions. The service can include up to three components.

1. End-of-life ceremony

Performed at the deathbed. This personal ceremony aims to bring peace and dignity, often including conversation and quiet ritual elements, with optional participation from the family.

2. Funeral ceremony

Includes preparing a sacred space, building a ritual fire or lighting candles, a cleansing gateway at the entrance and slow drumming throughout. The ceremony welcomes participants into the sacred space, opens the circle, calls in ancestors and helping spirits, and includes the casting of earth on the coffin. A minute's silence follows, then closing rituals with song.

3. Memorial ceremony

Participants receive symbolic objects – feathers, stones, fruit – to hold their intentions. After sharing memories, a drum journey helps participants release negativity while keeping positive feelings. The ceremony ends with participants moving through a spirit spiral and then forming a circle to strengthen collective positive energy.

Important

Let your family know your wishes and consider documenting your preferences. Most municipalities offer religiously neutral ceremony rooms.

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