Spirit Houses – A Refuge for Phi
This post was originally published on May 6th, 2012 on amywarcup.com
As I have been busily preparing to depart for Thailand again in three weeks, I have been reflecting on some of the unique aspects of Thailand’s cultural rituals. It is amazing how removed I have become from most of these practices after being home for only five months, considering how they were such a part of my daily existence while I was in Thailand.
One practice that I became accustomed to seeing was the placement of a spirit-house in the front of nearly every business and residence I passed. I encountered dozens of spirit-houses daily, whether I was passing a congested business district in Bangkok, or while wandering down a desolate rural dirt road in central Koh Samui. They were as common as seeing mailboxes in front of homes in the United States. It is a structure that can be seen all over Thailand, as well as in other Southeast Asian countries that hold beliefs in Animism and Theravada Buddhism such as Laos, Burma, and Cambodia.
Spirit-houses are structures that are typically made out of wood, and are crafted in the formation of miniature houses that are believed to serve as homes for spirits who have been disconnected from the spirit world. These spirits are called “phi” by the Thai people. Thais believe the phi may possibly have been displaced as a result of an unexpected, abrupt, or even violent death, which therefore left the spirit to continue to linger on the earth in search of a home. Common locations the phi are believed to dwell are in forests, secluded locations in nature, or around places of former residence or familiarity. Many of these spirits can easily become disrupted if an environment is altered or changed in some manner, such as when a tree is cut down for construction. Additionally, many Thais also believe the tree itself has a spirit, which is connected to Thailand’s ancient pre-Buddhist practice of Animism; the belief that every living aspect in nature is sacred. Animistic beliefs are still prevalent in Thailand today.
A Thai person will typically place a spirit-house in an auspicious location in front of or inside of a home or place of business to provide a refuge for the phi. To keep peace with the phi, the owners will leave daily offerings of food, water, flowers, and other sacred objects near and around the entryway of the spirit-house. It is believed that these offerings will help them to maintain amicable relations with the phi and create a peaceful and auspicious home or business. Failure to acknowledge the phi by providing a spirit-house and giving offerings is thought to cause the phi to become angered and may therefore cause bad luck for the humans, perhaps in the formation of family or marital problems in a place of residence, or financial struggles at a business.
It is important to point out that the Thai people do not consider the phi to be deities, nor are the offerings intended to be a form of worship. The phi are considered to be neither inferior nor superior to humans, but rather are equals who need their own space to dwell in so they don’t wander freely throughout the human’s home or business. The spirit-house also shows respect for the phi, who may have dwelled in the location first before the humans took over the space. It is considered a way of sharing a space between the living and the spirit world.
Some spirit-houses are adorned with an array of colors, flowers, and jewels, while others are very simple. Most will have small figures inside of them of people and animals, which are considered to be the caretakers, or guardians, of the spirit house in which they are placed. Some places will also have two spirit-houses placed side-by-side; one large, and one a smaller version. In this case, the smaller house is erected for the spirit of the place itself, or the “lord of the land,” and the larger house is a home for the gods of the heavens.
If you are interested in reading more about some of Thailand’s spiritual traditions, I recommend The Spiritual Healing Traditions of Thailand by C. Pierce Salguero.
I will be revisiting very soon to introduce the students who will be traveling to Thailand with me in my next entry. Stay tuned!
Spirit Houses – A Refuge for PhiThis post was originally published on May 6th, 2012 on amywarcup.comAs I have been busily preparing to depart for Thailand again in three weeks, I have been reflecting on some of the unique aspects of Thailand’s cultural rituals. It is amazing how removed I have become from most of these practices after being home for only five months, considering how they were such a part of my daily existence while I was in Thailand.One practice that I became accustomed to seeing was the placement of a spirit-house in the front of nearly every business and residence I passed. I encountered dozens of spirit-houses daily, whether I was passing a congested business district in Bangkok, or while wandering down a desolate rural dirt road in central Koh Samui. They were as common as seeing mailboxes in front of homes in the United States. It is a structure that can be seen all over Thailand, as well as in other Southeast Asian countries that hold beliefs in Animism and Theravada Buddhism such as Laos, Burma, and Cambodia.Spirit-houses are structures that are typically made out of wood, and are crafted in the formation of miniature houses that are believed to serve as homes for spirits who have been disconnected from the spirit world. These spirits are called “phi” by the Thai people. Thais believe the phi may possibly have been displaced as a result of an unexpected, abrupt, or even violent death, which therefore left the spirit to continue to linger on the earth in search of a home. Common locations the phi are believed to dwell are in forests, secluded locations in nature, or around places of former residence or familiarity. Many of these spirits can easily become disrupted if an environment is altered or changed in some manner, such as when a tree is cut down for construction. Additionally, many Thais also believe the tree itself has a spirit, which is connected to Thailand’s ancient pre-Buddhist practice of Animism; the belief that every living aspect in nature is sacred. Animistic beliefs are still prevalent in Thailand today.A Thai person will typically place a spirit-house in an auspicious location in front of or inside of a home or place of business to provide a refuge for the phi. To keep peace with the phi, the owners will leave daily offerings of food, water, flowers, and other sacred objects near and around the entryway of the spirit-house. It is believed that these offerings will help them to maintain amicable relations with the phi and create a peaceful and auspicious home or business. Failure to acknowledge the phi by providing a spirit-house and giving offerings is thought to cause the phi to become angered and may therefore cause bad luck for the humans, perhaps in the formation of family or marital problems in a place of residence, or financial struggles at a business.It is important to point out that the Thai people do not consider the phi to be deities, nor are the offerings intended to be a form of worship. The phi are considered to be neither inferior nor superior to humans, but rather are equals who need their own space to dwell in so they don’t wander freely throughout the human’s home or business. The spirit-house also shows respect for the phi, who may have dwelled in the location first before the humans took over the space. It is considered a way of sharing a space between the living and the spirit world.Some spirit-houses are adorned with an array of colors, flowers, and jewels, while others are very simple. Most will have small figures inside of them of people and animals, which are considered to be the caretakers, or guardians, of the spirit house in which they are placed. Some places will also have two spirit-houses placed side-by-side; one large, and one a smaller version. In this case, the smaller house is erected for the spirit of the place itself, or the “lord of the land,” and the larger house is a home for the gods of the heavens.If you are interested in reading more about some of Thailand’s spiritual traditions, I recommend The Spiritual Healing Traditions of Thailand by C. Pierce Salguero.I will be revisiting very soon to introduce the students who will be traveling to Thailand with me in my next entry. Stay tuned!
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