Best Readings and Blessings for a Water Farewell

Words that flow with love, memory, and release

When families gather by the water to say goodbye, there’s a quiet moment — a pause before the urn touches the surface.

It’s often in that silence that we realize: we don’t know what to say.

This guide offers gentle readings, poems, and blessings you can use during an ash scattering at sea, lake, or river farewell.

Each passage was chosen to reflect peace, continuity, and the deep bond that remains beyond loss.

Whether you speak them aloud or hold them quietly in your heart, may they help you find the words when the moment feels too vast for speech.

Opening Readings – Setting the Tone for the Ceremony

The opening words of a farewell at sea often center on gratitude and release.

Here are three examples to gently begin your ceremony:

1. “Let the Water Carry You Home”

As we stand before the open water, we give thanks for your life — for every ripple of laughter, for every tide of love.

The sea was always your place of peace, and now it receives you again.

May these waters carry you home, with calm and endless grace.

💡 Best for: Families holding a water burial where the loved one had a special connection to the sea.

2. “We Release with Love”

Today we release what our hands can no longer hold, but not what our hearts can never let go.

Love, after all, is like the tide — it goes out, but it always returns.

💡 Best for: Ceremonies with close family or intimate gatherings.

3. “The Ocean Within Us”

The ocean does not take; it carries.

Every drop that falls becomes part of the whole — as every memory now lives within us.

You are not gone; you’ve become part of everything that moves and breathes and flows.

💡 Best for: Spiritual or nature-based ceremonies.

Blessings for Release – Words to Say as the Urn Touches the Water

This is often the most emotional part of the ceremony.

You can invite each person to say a short line, scatter petals, or share a blessing before the urn begins to float.

1. “Go Gently”

Go gently into the water, carried by love.

May you find peace in every wave, and may the sea remember your name.

2. “Return to the Source”

From water you came, to water you return.

The earth receives, the sky witnesses, and love remains — always flowing, never ending.

3. “The Circle Continues”

As we release you to the tide,

may every ripple carry our gratitude,

and every breeze remind us that nothing truly leaves — it simply changes form.

💡 Tip: Some families play instrumental music during this part (many use the Spotify playlists included in Pachamama’s urn kits).

Readings for After the Release

Once the urn begins to sink and the petals spread, silence often fills the space.

It can be comforting to close with words that express hope and continuity.

1. “Still With Us”

You are not lost to us — you’ve simply moved beyond the shore.

When we look to the horizon, we’ll see your light there,

dancing on the water, reminding us: love doesn’t end, it expands.

2. “May the Water Hold You”

May the water hold you as it holds all that it loves —

gently, endlessly, and without condition.

3. “The Ocean’s Promise”

What we release today will rise again in rain,

will flow again in rivers,

will return again as life.

How to Create Your Own Reading

You don’t have to use formal prayers or poetry.

Sometimes the most meaningful words are the simplest:

• “Thank you for your love.”

• “You are free.”

• “We’ll carry you always.”

You can even invite family members to write one line each and read them aloud together.

It becomes a shared ritual of presence, not performance.

💡 Tip: If your ceremony includes children, let them write or draw something to release — like a small biodegradable paper heart or flower.

Suggested Structure for a Water Farewell

To help guide your moment, here’s a gentle flow many families follow:

1. Opening words – gratitude, memory, or a brief reflection.

2. Reading or poem – one voice or shared among the group.

3. Release of urn – accompanied by petals, music, or silence.

4. Closing words or blessing – hope, peace, and continuity.

You can also use our downloadable EPA Worksheet for Families to plan and record your ceremony.

👉 Download the EPA Burial at Sea Worksheet (PDF)

Every farewell by water is unique. Some are quiet, others full of song.

Some happen on a cruise deck, others by a lake at sunset.

What matters most isn’t how it looks — it’s how it feels.

When you speak words of love over water, they don’t disappear.

They travel, ripple, and return.

And in time, you’ll find that part of your heart is still out there, floating — light as a petal, vast as the tide.

“The sea never forgets those it has received.”

With care and peace,

Virginia

 

 

❓FAQs — Readings & Blessings for a Water Farewell

What do you say when scattering ashes in water?

Simple, honest words are best. Begin with gratitude, share one memory, and close with a gentle blessing (e.g., “Go gently; we carry you in love.”).

How long should a reading or blessing be?

1–3 minutes per reading is perfect. If several people will speak, keep each reading short to preserve the calm rhythm of the moment.

Can we use religious texts or prayers?

Yes. Choose passages that reflect your family’s beliefs and the spirit of your loved one—religious, interfaith, or nature-based.

Who should read—one person or many?

Either works. One voice can guide the flow; multiple voices can feel communal. You can also invite each person to read one line.

Can children take part in the readings?

Absolutely. Offer short lines they can say, or let them place petals or a biodegradable paper heart into the water.

May we include music during the readings?

Yes—instrumental or soft vocals work well. Keep volume low so the words remain the focus. (Pachamama kits include curated Spotify playlists.)

Can we place a letter or poem inside the urn?

If you choose to, use uncoated, biodegradable paper or seed paper so materials return safely to nature.

Are there rules we should follow for ocean scatterings in the U.S.?

Yes: release ashes at least 3 nautical miles from shore, use only biodegradable materials, and file the EPA Burial-at-Sea report within 30 days.

What if we’re at a lake or river instead of the ocean?

Inland waters follow state/local rules, not the EPA’s ocean guidance. Check local regulations before your ceremony.