1. © 2015 Police Pagan Association
1DocumentTitle
Funerary & Sudden Death Guidance
A guide foroperational police officers,investigatorsandforensicstaff relatingto
Pagan funerary traditions and dealing with sudden death in a Pagan context.
Author Unknown
Document number PPA
Author PS Andrew Pardy
Version 1.4
Ratification date 18/10/2015
Review date 01/11/2018
© Copyright
Police Pagan Association
2015

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3. © 2015 Police Pagan Association
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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

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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 the21st Century –Home Officeconsultation document (2004)
(2) Page 25, Burial Law and Policy inthe 21st Century -The Way Forward –Ministry ofJustice document (2007)
(3) Page 22, Burial Law and Policy inthe 21st Century –Home Office consultationdocument (2004)
(4) Burial Act 1857, Burial LawsAmendment Act 1880,Public HealthAct 1984.

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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 ofthe Criminal Justice Act 1988
(6) LargsViking Festival 2009

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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.

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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. The preparation of a Heathen corpse would
usually include the trimming of the fingernails and toenails due to the legend of Naglfari, a
boat made of the uncut nails of the dead which carries the enemies of the Gods into battle
at Ragnarok – the end of the world.
Ritual jewellery should not be removed without the consent of the family of the deceased.
In most (but not all) cases a Wiccan will wear a pentacle, a depiction of the moon or The
Goddess; a Heathen will wear an inverted hammer or a Valknut; and Pagan Druids will wear
a depiction of the Arwen; pictorial examples of these can be found in Appendix B.
A rare Heathen custom exists whereby a dying Heathen Pagan may mark their skin with the
Rune of the Norse God Tyr, or request another to do so; a pictorial example of the rune can
be found in Appendix C. This may be marked by drawing or cutting the symbol into the skin.
This is because some Heathens believe that their spirit will depart through the wound,
although rare in the UK it may inadvertently appear to be suspicious or even the cause of
death; friends or family will likely have knowledge of this procedure, should it be
encountered.
The family of the deceased may request that ritual items be kept with them, especially
Heathens, who believe that entry into Valhalla is only granted to those with a weapon in
their hands. Whilst not always practical, efforts should be made to observe this important
aspect whenever possible.
(7) Chapter 51, Gylfaginning, Prose Edda

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SECTION 3
Ritual Weapons
ATHAME
An example of an Athame, a ritual dagger
possessed by most Pagans. It is usually
dedicated to the owner, and is an important
ritual tool.
BOLINE
A Boline is a ritual sickle, usually (but not
exclusively) possessed by Druidic Pagans. It
is usually dedicated to the owner, and is a
practical and ritualistic tool.
SEAX
The Seax is a traditional single-edged knife
of Northern European origin. It is usually
used by Heathen Pagans in much the same
way as an Athame, but is also a practical
tool.
SWORD
Ritual swords can be possessed by those
following any of the Pagan paths, but are
more prevalent in Heathen and Druidic
orders. Many Pagan covens will own a
sword for the purpose of important rituals;
many are not suitable for other uses, and
are often blunted for safety.

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SECTION 4
Pagan Symbols
PENTACLE
The pentacle is the most commonly worn
and recognised Pagan symbol, and is worn
by Pagans of all paths, but most commonly
by Wiccans. The Pentacle may be worn as a
pendant around the neck or on a charm
bracelet worn around the wrist or ankle
TRIPLE MOON
This symbol, which represents three aspects
of the moon, is often worn by Dianic
Wiccans, and is more prevalent with female
practitioners.
THE GODDESS
The Goddess is often portrayed in a simple
fashion, in keeping with the original
depictions found on ancient artefacts. The
figure is always feminine, but can be in a
variety of poses.
NORDIC HAMMER
The Hammer, most commonly worn by
Heathen Pagans, is a representation of the
hammer of Thor, and is referred to as
Mjolinir. Heathen Pagans may wear
jewellery in the form of a pendant, torque
or armband.

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Pagan Symbols [continued]
VALKNUT
The Valknut is another Heathen symbol, but
is often misunderstood, as some white
supremacist groups misrepresent such
symbols as part of their cause. For Heathen
Pagans the Valknut represents strength and
integrity.
AWEN
The Awen is the sacred symbol of the
Druidic Pagans, and represents Divine
Inspiration.
SECTION 5
The Tyr Rune
THE TYR RUNE
This is a basic example of the Nordic Tyr
Rune, which may be found on the person of
a Heathen Pagan, either drawn or tattooed
onto or, on rare occasions, cut into their
skin.

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SECTION 6
Document Control
Compliance Auditor Date
Diversity PS 1158 Andrew Pardy 19/01/14
Health and Safety
Data Protection PS 1158 Andrew Pardy 19/01/14
Human Rights PS 1158 Andrew Pardy 19/01/14
Freedom of Information PS 1158 Andrew Pardy 19/01/14
Information Management
Date Version Summary of Changes
18/07/11 1.1 Current
08/09/12 1.2 Current
19/01/14 1.3 Current
18/10/15 1.4 Current

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