Do you believe in ghosts ?. If you are Thai I’m certain you will answer yes, I believe in ghosts. If you are a westerner I guess you will most likely dismiss ghosts and belief in the spirit world as pure twaddle. As a westerner living in Thailand you will also be aware that Thai […]
Continue ReadingSpirit Worship in Thailand
The Scarecrow
It’s not uncommon to see scarecrows in Thailand’s paddy fields, but this one (photo below) was outside a temple in Pattaya. I have read a couple of articles which suggest the Thais also use scarecrows to scare away evil spirits.
Continue ReadingBuddha On The Dashboard
One of the initial mysterious oddities that puzzles visitors to Thailand is actually one of the very first visible signs of Thai culture new arrivals see. Those apparent oddities of Thai culture are to be witnessed inside a taxi cab, there is nothing odd or strange about Buddha, but why is he sat on the […]
Continue ReadingThailand’s Animist Practices and Beliefs
Before Hinduism and Buddhism were introduced into Thailand there was only one religious belief, that belief was that a spirit world existed, not only did the spirits exist but they were mightily powerful and controlling, this belief is called Animism and it manifests itself in the form of spirit worship. It might not be strictly […]
Continue ReadingThai City Pillars – Lak Mueang
In Thailand, houses are protected by spirit houses (San Phra Phoom and San Jao Tee), larger buildings and villages are protected by Brahma shrines (San Phra Phrum/San Phra Brahm). Thai cities, more specifically the provincial capitals of Thailand are protected by the City Pillar. also known as Lak Mueang, “Lak Myan”. The City Pillar is […]
Continue ReadingSacred Fig Tree in Pattaya Naklua
The sacred tree prominently positioned in the middle of the road, in the center of the market town of Naklua, just a few miles north of Pattaya, is commonly referred to as “The Tree”. It is in fact a Sacred Fig tree (ficus religiosa), sacred fig trees are highly respected in Thailand because of their […]
Continue ReadingNang Kwak – Thailand’s Beckoning Lady
The people of Thailand are very superstitious, and the use of lucky charms and talismans is still in use every day. Thailand has many lucky charms, talismans and amulets, indeed, Thailand probably has more lucky charms and talismans than any other country in the World. Where money and business is concerned there is one lucky […]
Continue ReadingThailand’s Sacred Fig Tree
The Sacred Fig Tree (Ficus Religiosa) is probably the most common and highly revered of all the sacred trees in Thailand. The Sacred Fig is a common sight in temple compounds throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia. Besides being a feature in temple compounds the Sacred Fig tree is seen on the highways and byways of […]
Continue ReadingMae Thorani aka Earth Goddess
Thai things, the things we see and experience every day in Thailand, be it spiritual, religious, fun, or what appears to be plain old daft to foreigners, it’s good to know what you are looking at. This way you can begin to know what makes Thailand and Thai people tick. Mae Thorani, also known as […]
Continue ReadingThai Superstition – Roadside Spirit Houses
In Thailand, unwanted or broken Spirit Houses should not simply be thrown away, the favored locations for placing old Spirit Houses are in the grounds of a temple, underneath a sacred fig tree or somewhere with religious significance. The Spirit Houses pictured in the 2 photos below were on a roadside not far from Pattaya […]
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