
End-of-Life University Ep. 504 The Ash Rose: Transforming Grief into Beauty with Ian McCartor
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:
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
- Leave me a message by email: kwyattmd@comcast.net, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
- Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Souloin the team at Patreon.com/eolu and receive free gifts like the “Mind if we talk about death?” mini-poster or Love Your Life sticker or coffee mug. PLUS get our regular bonuses: the monthly EOL News Update, monthly What to Watch recommendations, Behind the Scenes Bonus content, and automatic access to A Year of Reading Dangerously!
- Buy me a coffee
- Donate on Paypal
If you enjoy this content please share it with others and consider leaving a review on iTunes. Thanks again to all supporters on my page at Patreon.com/eolu, and to Barbara Walker for donating on Paypal! Your contributions make all the difference and ensure this podcast stays ad-free.
