Fire ceremony – The transient becomes light
Fire has always represented transformation, purification, and transition. In a fire ceremony, this ancient symbolism finds its place in the modern farewell ritual. It offers relatives the opportunity to convey final words, thoughts, and feelings in a personal way—trusting that fire transforms what moves us.
The Significance of Fire in Farewell
Fire has a profound, unifying power in all cultures. It provides warmth and light, transforms matter into energy, and allows new things to emerge. In the funeral service, it becomes a symbol of letting go: What still burdens us can be released and transformed into light.
For many people, this moment is particularly comforting—because it makes it tangible that love, gratitude, and memories remain, even when the visible fades away.
Words about the Ritual
And finally, we want to share our final words with the deceased: In a fire ceremony, we may place letters, drawings, or personal thoughts into the flames. The fire absorbs them and carries them upwards, transforming the transient into light – our love, gratitude, and reconciliation into something lasting. In this way, we can express to the deceased everything that may have remained unspoken and offer them our final words – a sign of our love and connection that endures beyond death.
These words summarize the meaning of the ritual: letting go of the visible in order to preserve the invisible.
Procedure and Design
The fire ceremony can take place at the end of a funeral service, at an urn burial, or as a standalone ritual. A small fire basket, a bowl, or a symbolic flame is lit. Relatives place letters, thoughts, or small symbols into the fire – individually or together. Music, silence, or a short text accompany this moment, which often becomes a heartfelt conclusion to the ceremony.
Possible elements of the fire ceremony:
- Lighting a symbolic flame or fire
- Personal contributions from loved ones (letters, words, drawings)
- Accompanying music or silence
- Words of gratitude and letting go
- Closing blessing or shared reflection
- Facilitation by Master Reding
Master Reding leads the fire ceremony with a calm voice and a clear structure, allowing each person to find space for their own moment. He ensures a dignified flow, safety, and the symbolic depth of the ritual. His words help organize the experience and make the connection between fire, memory, and moving on tangible.
A sign of transition
When the flames die down and only embers and smoke remain, a feeling of peace fills the air. The fire has taken, transformed, and sustained—and what remains is light.
What we entrust to the fire returns to us as warmth.
With this certainty, Master Reding accompanies fire ceremonies as the conclusion of a farewell, as a symbol of transformation and as an expression of what connects us beyond life.