THAI BLACK MAGIK

Black magik is firmly entrenched in Thailand. It’s origin aligns closely with Animism (Latin – animus “soul, or, life”) in which animals and other objects, living and dead are believed to have spirits or souls. Plants, trees, rocks, and other things were sometimes considered gods or with the ability to affect weather, people’s emotions and health, luck. Before Buddhism was even heard of in Thailand (it came from India), there was Animism and black magic beliefs, rituals, superstition, and magic spells.

Though Theravada Buddhism is the belief system followed by more than 90% of the country’s residents, there is also a small Christian group and a relatively large Muslim group based mainly in the southern provinces of Thailand, near Malaysia.

Black magik, animism, and belief in the supernatural and superstition is held by a majority of Thailand’s populace, regardless of the religion or belief system they primarily identify with. Black magic is not only concerned with negative, evil, demons, or bad things. Black magic spells and amulets can also be used for good, protection, luck, health, love, fertility, and as many other uses as there are human needs and desires.

Thailand is a land where modernity and black magic can coexist peacefully. There is no culture war in this part of the world. The Thai people will see no contradiction in enjoying the best of what science has to offer, while still retaining a respect for ghosts and the supernatural which are not wholly explainable. If foreigners claim that they doubt the existence of ghosts, their response can be respectful incredulity. This is particularly true for those who live in rural Thailand where doubting the existence of ghosts would be almost akin to doubting the existence of the moon.

Thailand is predominately a Buddhist country, but this tends to be mixed with older animistic beliefs. The people of Thailand are renowned for their love of life, and their laid back attitude (this is exemplified in the famous Thai saying ‘mai pen rai’ – it doesn’t matter), but they also have a strong belief in powerful supernatural entities. These spirits, ghosts, and demons are to be feared and respected, because they can bring great harm as well as good. Over the centuries, the Thais as a people have developed tools and techniques for staying on the good side of these entities. To dismiss this aspect of the culture would be to ignore much of what it means to be Thai. Black magic is everywhere, and it is a very common theme in television shows and movies. Some of the most popular movies of the year, and in history, have focused on Thai evil spirits and the bad things they are capable of. Interestingly, most of the stories on popular media treat the supernatural in a comedic fashion. Almost as if they don’t want to scare people too directly. The subject is frightening enough to many Thais.