Description
The unique occult art of Thai tattooing, common beliefs in ghosts and supernatural practitioners -including spirit mediums, magical monks and Brahmin priests-are all debated and explained in this colourful and spellbinding book. Having lived in Thailand for many years, author, photographer and anthropologist Marlane Guelden draws on her personal and academic experiences to introduce the complexity and allure of the spirit world in Thailand. Thailand: Spirits Among Us follows the path of many aspects of the spirit world.
The use of the nora dance-drama performance, which arose as a way to communicate with ancestors, is examined. Ghosts from different sources are identified, from the Ghost of Unrequited Love to the more gruesome spirit of the Filth Ghost normally associated with childbirth. The uses and meanings of spirit houses, amulets and powerful corpse oil are also presented. With the support of stunning photographs, Thailand: Spirits Among Us explores what one researcher has described as Thailand's potent brew of power, magic and luck.
