The cremation industry has seen an explosion of creativity in recent decades.
The options now available for cremation urns, jewelry, and keepsakes are unprecedented, and new possibilities enfold nearly every day.
But this creativity isn't limited to the urns or other vessels in which ashes can be housed.
It's also characteristic of what many people are now choosing to do with their cremated ashes after they are placed inside of the vessel.
No longer is burial underground or placement on a shelf at home the only choices for what to do with cremated remains.
Today a number of more exotic options are available.
For instance, a number of people today choose to have their ashes "scattered at sea.
" This can be done by releasing the ashes from a temporary urn into the water or by placing the ashes in a biodegradable urn made of paper or sand and allowing it to float on the water before eventually sinking to the ocean floor.
Some who like the idea of a burial at sea and are concerned about the environmental impact of their choice can have their ashes dispersed over an actual coral reef.
These people take comfort in knowing that their remains will actually become an active part of the developing eco-system present there.
But options for burial at sea are tame compared to some recent developments.
Some have had ashes dropped from a helium balloon or scattered from an airplane.
Those who choose one of these options like the romantic notion of having their ashes carried by the winds to a variety of unpredictable final resting places.
Others who wish to make a statement about their sense of adventure or explosive personalities during life have actually chosen to have their ashes shot from a shotgun or included in a fireworks display.
Artistic types have even chosen to have their ashes mixed into paint that will be used to create a new piece of art.
Perhaps the boldest choice of what to do with cremated ashes is to send them into space.
By housing in a small tube that can sent into low-earth orbit, these ashes remain in space for a number of years before returning to the atmosphere.
People who have opted for this unique and costly option like the idea of their remains being outside of the pull of gravity and the normal constraints of life on Earth.
Regardless of what option is chosen for the eventual resting place of cremated ashes, whether they are simply displayed on an unassuming book shelf or launched into space, the important consideration is choosing a cremation urn appropriate for that choice.
Today, a number of green options are available for those who want a biodegradable urn for burial at sea, strong metal choices are present for those who want more of a fiery display, and a whole spectrum of choices somewhere between these two are easily accessible.
But fortunately, the creativity of the cremation industry is not limited to the exotic possibilities for what happens to the ashes after cremation.
The innovation and artistry present now in the amazing array of possible cremation urns ensure that just as much creativity and distinct personality can be highlighted through the urns themselves, even if they are not sent into the heavens or dropped to the ocean floor.
Today, a beautiful urn sitting on the mantle of a family home may be the perfect "orbit" for a memorial that honors and pays respect to a lost loved one.