Yes, it is generally okay to open an urn. Most say that cremated remains are sterile, so you shouldn't have to worry about your health or safety from opening an urn. There are no legal reasons why an urn can't be opened either unless there is a question of who legally owns the cremains.
Here's what happens when you open the plastic or cardboard urn that you'll receive from the funeral home or crematorium. Inside, you'll find the remains sealed in a plastic bag. You'll be able to see the ashes through the bag.
Additionally, most will not seal the urn permanently. This is often the preferred option because it makes it easier for families to transfer ashes if need be. After the ashes are given to the family, they are free to do with them what they wish.
In most cases, for example, your loved one's ashes are inside a plastic bag, which is inside the temporary urn. As a result, transferring the ashes from one vessel to another is as simple as moving a plastic bag from one box to another.
You can read more about the superstitious aspects of urns and ashes, but with few exceptions in special cases, nothing scary happens when you open an urn. Most likely, it won't even be messy because the ashes should be sealed in a protective plastic bag within the urn.
The process of cremation is highly regulated, and the remains are subjected to high heat (usually between 1400-1800 degrees Fahrenheit) that destroys any bacteria or viruses that might have been present in the body. This means that cremated ashes are sterile and completely safe to handle.
Ceramic, Metal, or Glass Urns
The lid may have been glued with epoxy. If it doesn't come off with slight pressure on the lid, soak a cotton swab in acetone or epoxy solvent and run it along the seal. Repeat as needed. Note, a rubber mallet can also be used to help loosen the lid.
A common question that we find in the cremation diamond industry is do ashes have an expiration date? The short answer is they don't; at least not in our lifetime. It would take around one million years for ashes to dissolve since they are made solely of inorganic material.
Ashes have no expiry date
You can keep them in the container from the crematorium for as long as you need.
Cremains contain what is known as rest energy, sometimes referred to as free or dormant energy. This type of energy is still subject to the restraints of natural law, and can have no physical or spiritual impact on those around it.
The most common question that people have is whether ashes are safe to touch. The simple answer is yes, but it is still important to know what comprises ashes so that you know what exactly you are coming in contact with. Traditional flame-based cremation produces a pale, gray powder that contains bone fragments.
An unsealed lid would easily come off once you unscrew the lid and apply gentle pressure. However, if it seems that the lid does not come off after applying gentle pressure, it indicates that it's a sealed urn, and the lid is secured using wax, silicone, or some other type of adhesive.
There are no set implications of keeping ashes in the house. By keeping ashes in the house, you will be allowing the psychic connection between the deceased loved one and the remaining family members to continue, which often helps grieving families come to terms with their loss.
If the urn has been sealed with wax or an adhesive, try using fingernail polish remover or an epoxy solvent. Soak a cotton ball or pad in the solution and rub it along the seal. You might need to apply it several times and wiggle or force the lid free. If necessary, use a screwdriver to pry the lid open.
Many temporary urns are just shaped like a box with a lid. All you have to do is open the box or remove a lid to retrieve the ashes inside. Those cremains will likely also be encased in a sealable plastic bag inside the temporary urn.
Can you get DNA from ashes? Yes. In rare cases, DNA can be extracted from cremated ashes.
While we might think that having the loved-one's ashes in a plain box or beautiful urn, displayed in our home, might be honoring, according to Feng Shui, it is not appropriate, because the energy of the deceased, which is held by their ashes, is Yin. It needs to be returned to the earth, or to water (Yin with Yin).
While wood ashes are considered nontoxic, they contain alkaline material in the form of potassium carbonate and potassium hydroxide, often referred to as pearl potash and potash, respectively. These compounds are very soluble in water and react with water to release hydroxide ions which can produce a pH as high as 12.
Ashes are heavier than some people expect
But human ashes aren't the same type of ash - they're made of bone. Bones are made of various acids, minerals, and salts, which means they're heavier than many people expect. How heavy the ashes are will depend on the person who's died.
Cremation Urns
However, even in the best conditions heat and moisture will creep in. The only damage this will do is to cause the remains to harden together and "clump" to some extent inside the urn.
Human ashes are like sand and they do not float. They will not dissolve in the water; instead, they will descend into the ocean until they hit the floor. Can we have a service or a mariner's farewell ceremony before we scatter ashes?
Most wood urns close in a box-like fashion or have a sliding panel at the bottom that is removable. There is no need to seal, but some people prefer to do so. Wood glue or a glue designed for porous materials will work for this purpose.
Some families choose to scatter the cremated remains (also known as cremains), while others choose to keep the urn in their homes. However, burying the cremains is also a popular way of expressing symbolic closure after the cremation.