It has taken leading German businesswoman Sandra Schwenn the best part of 30 years to come to terms with the death of her grandfather, who was her father figure, when she was aged 22. But now she has, Sandra has a whole new vision and understanding of death, which she hopes to share with like-minded people in Mallorca and around the world.
Sandra, a former model who studied and worked in London as an interior and fashion designer before moving to Mallorca 11 years ago, founded LOOVE Weddings & Events Team after eventually coming to terms with moving to Mallorca - she even brought a Black Cab with her! And now, after one-and-a-half years in development, she is now poised to launch Beyond Loove.
“This all came about because I had a huge problem with death. First it was my grandfather, then more recently my horse and then my dog. I love animals and the ceremonies I am about to embark on are not just for humans, they are for pets too. I was so devastated. The first time I had to really face death was when my grandfather passed away. It was a long time ago but I couldn’t deal it, it was horrible. And this project has been in the making ever since. I had a feeling that I needed to do something, but there was no form, no idea, no process. It hit me so hard but eventually I managed to deal with it because that is what life is all about - after a certain time we move on. Then my horse died two years ago and again I had this feeling of this cannot be it. It can’t be that with death everything ends,” Sandra explained.
Mexico
“So, I started researching and came across the most amazing book The Wheel of Life. I could feel, through her work, that there is something else after death. Then I started researching the Mexican culture, the Mayans, the Incas. And I connected very quickly with the Mayan culture because it is very spiritual, based on astrology and while I was in Mexico I joined the Day of the Dead celebrations, which were unbelievable. It was amazing to see how the people take death into their lives, spending days in the cemeteries with the dead.
"They do it with so much love, it’s very difficult to explain,” she said. “It’s like they know that the people, their souls, are still there. The key point in my opinion to Beyond Loove is that it is a new movement in which the soul is going on a journey. With death of course the soul leaves the body and goes on a different journey and then you can either believe in reincarnation or not. But this is what I believe in. Love goes beyond death. And this is something I would like to help people with.
Amazing memory
“The ceremonies I am doing are celebrations of life with rituals, music, speeches and stories, food whatever was important to the departed. We will create one amazing memory. And key to this new concept are the Spheres I have developed. I suppose traditionally they would be called urns, but they are not, they are the heart of the ceremony because they stand for eternity. There is no end. And while the urn, which is the centre of the sphere will go, the outer shell will remain.
“The inner sphere is biodegradable and dissolves in water while the outer sphere will stay with the family as a reminder,” Sandra said. "These spheres can be used for humans or animals and they are really beautiful,” she added. “Furthermore, I want to help people, especially now in this uncertain world we’re living in. We have a global problem, people are devastated, many are still recovering from the impacts of Covid, we have all the wars breaking out and the dictatorships, it’s horrible and the world needs something positive. Death is all around, that’s normal, it’s part of all our lives, but I want to help people to see it with different eyes. I certainly don’t want to fight the church, I just want to help people feel another love and see that there is something beyond death.
“And even though we don’t physically feel this person, we can’t touch them once they are gone, they are still there. I have spirits in my flat in Mallorca. You can laugh, but I’m not crazy. This is something we should be more open to. All the indigenous cultures believe in that and as a result they are closer to themselves, their souls and their essence; we’re not. We’re so detached from who we really are, we’re too worried about material items, our clothes or a new car, whatever. None of this is really important, it’s all so superficial.
"We have to shift our focus onto things that really matter. It’s not just about seeing death through different eyes, I think it’s also about seeing life through different eyes and to live it to today. To stay in the present, not go too far into the past or the future, we have to live for today and enjoy every single second because it could all be very different tomorrow....especially at the moment,” Sandra said.
“This also applies to our pets. For many of us, animals are more than just pets – they are family. They offer us closeness, unconditional love, comfort, and joy. Losing them often hurts more deeply than we ever expected. Beyond Loove creates warm, personal ceremonies that give space to these feelings – with dignity, gratitude, and gentleness,” she said.
Loved London
Sandra was born in Hamburg but has Mongolian ancestry and she is convinced that has influenced her path through life, especially this new journey she is embarking on after 11 years in Mallorca, although it was not easy at first she admits. “I loved London but it was a different life, it was so superficial. I was locked into the fashion and design world and it took me some 18 months to connect with the island. But I did and I found my true self, I grew really close to myself. This island has something very strong. It’s very spiritual and emotional but you either surrender to it, embrace it. I decided I am what I am and Mallorca is beautiful, being surrounded by nature and this wonderful energy. But if you try and fight that, you will not survive on the island and you’ll eventually leave.
“Obviously nowhere is perfect, especially if you are in business like me, you face challenges like anywhere else, but making it work in Mallorca is so much worth going the extra mile. It’s like a Phoenix, you push along and rise again from the ashes of whatever problem may pop up and you feel reborn and it makes you stronger. As I am a fighter. Mallorca suits and I am very grateful that I am here. This project is going to be rolled out across Europe over the next few months.”