June 09, 2025

Ep. 504 The Ash Rose: Transforming Grief into Beauty with Ian McCartor

1 hour 5 minutes

Learn about making beautiful memorial art as way of navigating grief and honoring loved ones.

My guest Ian McCartor is a hospice nurse, musician, and founder of The Ash Rose, a project that transforms the ashes of loved ones into beautiful rose-shaped keepsakes. In this episode, Ian shares how his work helps individuals navigate grief by creating tangible symbols of remembrance and healing. Ian shares his journey from hospice care to creating tangible symbols of remembrance, highlighting how art and creativity can aid in the grieving process. He delves into the inspiration behind The Ash Rose, the impact it has had on individuals coping with loss, and the broader implications of integrating beauty into end-of-life rituals. Learn more at his website:

theashrose.org

Watch on YouTube

Listen here:

This episode includes:

Ian’s journey from hospice nursing to creating The Ash Rose

The inspiration behind transforming ashes into rose-shaped keepsakes

How art and creativity can play a role in the grieving process

Stories of individuals who have found solace through The Ash Rose

The importance of honoring loved ones in unique and personal ways

Ian’s perspective on the intersection of grief, beauty, and healing

“Out of the ashes, something beautiful can still grow.”

Ian Mccartor

Links mentioned in this episode:

Register for free workshop on Sacred Activism for Soulcare Providers OR go to: tinyurl.com/sacredactivismworkshop

See the Vogue article on Grief Travel my work was mentioned in! (This is the topic of the new book I’m working on – very exciting!)

NEW Gift Guides for Caregivers, People Receiving Care, and People Who are Grieving

Get my two newest books!! Stories from the Dark Night and The Tao of Death

Get EOLU Podcast Merch here

Conversations on Death with ChatGPT – Audiobook here; Print Book here

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