I read something called a “Scottish Death Cleaning”. Anyone heard of this? It is going through your items and giving them away while living, so that they go to who you want, and you can also pass stories along to them….and…no mad rush for your stuff after you die. As I read the article, I realized this is something I have slowly been doing since my coma/accident/2 years left to live…..(it’s been 10 by the way, accident/coma Nov 30-2015). Then I immediately reviewed ALL my photos and passed them to who would need them (the kids, siblings) I also gave the kids all the “goodies” I had been collecting for them over the years (report cards, hand clay prints from kindergarten, cub scout and sporting certificates…..). I was planning on handing them to each child on their 25th year (figure by then they would appreciate it). Now, I am going through other work, such as my writings, the whole, complete geneaology from now to BC. That is going to my cousin, and none of my kids care. She is very interested, though. So, not just Hogmanay, but I am also clearing out much “no longer needed, but keep it in the family” stuff.
That is a good idea! That way, you’re able to give it to someone you know who will appreciate it. I sometimes wonder who will get all my witchy stuff when I pass. Cards, crystals, extra incense, all that sort of stuff. I don’t have any family or any pagan friends around. At best, I can hope my worker or whoever gives it away on Facebook and it’ll go to people who need that kind of stuff.
I’m from Scotland and have never heard of this term before. I have heard of people giving away things before their passing (I can actually remember my grandpa doing this) but had no idea that it was called this.
I hust had a wee Google search and found an article in a Scottish newspaper which refers to it as Swedish death cleaning as apparently it is a Scandinavian trend that Scots are catching onto.
Interesting how different places have different names for the same thing. Thanks for sharing.
In real life or whatever, I am an attorney. One of my favorite pieces of advice I give to my clients regarding estate planning is this. I’ve never heard it referred to as Scottish Death Cleaning. By the way, congratulations on surviving your accident. I guess your work is not done for this lifetime yet.
Although I’m familiar with this practice, I’ve not heard this term before. I think it helps add a note of whimsy to what otherwise might be considered a bittersweet task.
But it makes so much sense to organize and downsize your possessions in this manner. If one doesn’t have an actual will or trust that itemizes these kinds of things, it make even more sense.
I’m so glad you beat the odds you were given. We should all be able to amaze our doctors!
My mother believed in spending money while we had it rather than waiting for retirement. If we actually retire, there is no guarantee that we’d have the health to enjoy it.
As for other cleaning out, are you noticing empty space, yet, or a lighter sense of being? They tend to go hand in hand.
When we moved out of my childhood home, Mom noticed the vast collection of stuff n stuff n stuff she’d saved over the years and never realized how much was there. We never used it, so it just sat there, just in case. That rainy day never came, or if it did, we had to buy new anyway, just because of forgetting where it was or the age and disintegration of the stuff we’d kept. It not only lightened our load in life, but also reduced our footprint on this planet.
That alone was a lot of work. Good job with all you’ve done so far and all you’re doing!
Oddly, we find out more about who and what is valuable when we do things like this. What I thought was my life’s work turned out to be worthless to everyone else the last time I went through my stuff. It was a shock to the system from which I haven’t totally recovered as yet.
I started doing it after the accident, because like you, Feather…”if one doesn’t have an actual will…it makes more sense”. I agree Georgia, “we find out more about who and what is valuable when we do things like this.” Until you said that…made me think….with all the moving I used to do, I would go through all my things (clothes) every 6 months….I guess I should take more of that advice and do it to everything. You know, y’all, without the “stuff”, life is a lot less hectic.
Happy Hogmanay and Scottish/Swedish/Nordic Cleansing—Lady Gene
While I’ve never heard of Scottish death cleaning I know there is Swedish death cleaning or döstädning , dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning”. It’s the idea of decluttering, selling or giving away personal items while one is still alive. After having to take care of my in laws estate the past year after they both passed (within a year of each other), there was (and is) so much in there house that needs to be disposed of.
Swedish death cleaning not only frees one up from excess personal possession, it also lovingly tries to reduce or eliminate the impact on family members left after one passes. But all that being said, it’s not for everyone. My Aunt has never thrown away anything she’s ever purchased just in case and the idea of letting any one thing leave the house is abhorrent.
There is a wonderfully supportive Facebook group devoted to this idea. I’ve been working on this the past 2 years and it’s been very cathartic.
In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming.
Swedish death cleaning (Döstädning) is a decluttering method historically practised in Sweden. It is a simple living practice, encouraging people to get rid of belongings before death to spare loved ones from having to manage them. [1] As the practice has become more popular in the United States, it has received both praise and criticism, being described by some as morbid and others as the healthiest thing you can do. [2] The term was popularised in a book by Swedish author Margareta Magnusson. [3] [4]
The tradition inspired a 2023 TV show, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, produced by Amy Poehler. [5] In the show, three Swedish people help Americans declutter and detach from belongings. [6]
I remember my father started doing something like this a few years before he died. He was an artist and had quite a collection of art materials and books.
But in the end, his studio was still filled to the top with italian papers, paints of all sorts, brushes and sketchbooks. For me, it was part of the grieving process to look through his belongings, his energy still lingering, whispering thank yous and goodbyes, talking with my family, sharing stories about him, how he would never throw out even the tiniest pencil stubs, buy more watercolor paints than a person could possibly ever use in a lifetime (they found a new home in my tiny apartment). His love for peppermint tea and a little piece of something sweet in the afternoon.
I´m sorry, I´m tearing up right now…it´s been almost ten years since he passed and I still miss him.
Clearing out my stuff is something I will have to consider, when the time comes. Like my mom. lol She is 85 now. When I visited her, I noticed that she has only 2 plates left from her beautiful tableware, and when I asked her, if I should go buy some for her, she just said: “no, I´ll be dying, soon, anyway.” Like…what?
I´m rambling…and it´s time for bed over here.
Have a good day or night, my lovely witches, wherever you are. It´s good to know, y´all are out there.
Is it Kismet that you are seeing this all over? Not to be macabre, maybe just a reminder for all of us to get rid of what “no longer serves”. Very interesting that this has come up at this time. Sounds to me like there may be a major shift coming and we need to “lighten up” our load.
here´s to ten more!!