This is a picture of the Spirit House for our apartment complex. The Spirit House is a Thai practice that stems from the ancient worship of spirits or Animism. Thai people believe that every living thing, the earth included, has a spirit. The Thai Spirit House is a unique aspect of Thai Buddhism that is the result of the old world animistic beliefs of the Thai people, being slowly morphed and intertwined with Buddhist beliefs as the practice spread across Southeast Asia from it's origins in in the Red River Delta.
The Thai people still hold very strong beliefs based in animism. So much so that every business, residence, garden or even a vacant lot, water fall or small body of water may have a Spirit House. It is their belief that Guardian Spirits can be invited from the heavens to dwell in the beautifully and ritualistically constructed houses, to provide blessings and positive energy for the family or business that erected the Spirit House. Not only are spirits invited to dwell in the structure, but because of the mischievous nature of spirits, they are asked for permission and to give blessing to any change to the structure or the grounds surrounding or associated with the Spirit House. Thais wholly believe that not asking for the blessing of the spirits will lead to catastrophe for any endeavor in which the spirits were not consulted.
Spirit Houses can be permanent or temporary based on the sprits to be invited. There are countless gods, spirits and celestial beings associated with Thai folklore. A temporary Spirit House may be built for a wedding or other special occasion for the purpose of inviting particular spirits to watch over and bless the event. The permanent structures are built for the Phra Bhum Jowthee, or Guardians of the Land. There are nine of these guardians, but the Thais are primarily concerned with the Guardian of the House and the Guardian of the Land and therefore are typically the only two Guardians for which permanent structures are built.
The Thai people still hold very strong beliefs based in animism. So much so that every business, residence, garden or even a vacant lot, water fall or small body of water may have a Spirit House. It is their belief that Guardian Spirits can be invited from the heavens to dwell in the beautifully and ritualistically constructed houses, to provide blessings and positive energy for the family or business that erected the Spirit House. Not only are spirits invited to dwell in the structure, but because of the mischievous nature of spirits, they are asked for permission and to give blessing to any change to the structure or the grounds surrounding or associated with the Spirit House. Thais wholly believe that not asking for the blessing of the spirits will lead to catastrophe for any endeavor in which the spirits were not consulted.
Spirit Houses can be permanent or temporary based on the sprits to be invited. There are countless gods, spirits and celestial beings associated with Thai folklore. A temporary Spirit House may be built for a wedding or other special occasion for the purpose of inviting particular spirits to watch over and bless the event. The permanent structures are built for the Phra Bhum Jowthee, or Guardians of the Land. There are nine of these guardians, but the Thais are primarily concerned with the Guardian of the House and the Guardian of the Land and therefore are typically the only two Guardians for which permanent structures are built.
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