Thai Spirit Cults: On Shamanism, Mediumship and Spirit Veneration in Thailand
Ivy Senna returns to Hadean Press with the latest in our Guides to the Underworld series with Thai Spirit Cults: On Shamanism, Mediumship and Spirit Veneration in Thailand.
When one hears the phrase ‘Thai magic’ or ‘Thai occult’, the first images that spring to mind tend to be that of amulets: Buddha amulets, prai amulets, and all sorts of talismans which are habitually romanticized or even fetishized by those interested in the Thai magical arts. What is missing from the discussion regarding Thai magic and spirituality is a deeper dive into the various shamanistic interactions between Thai locals and the Other— the spirits of the human dead, and those who are not human.
In Thai Spirit Cults: On Shamanism, Mediumship and Spirit Veneration in Thailand, Ivy Senna addresses this missing component of with a short exploration of two lesser- known spirit cults in Thailand: the cult of Pu Sae Ya Sae, and the nora shaman-dancer troupes and shows that ‘the heart of Thai occult lies in its spirits’.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Ivy Senna for over a year, during which she has assisted in my collaborations with Ajarn Apichai, serving as a translator for our projects blending Quimbanda, Conjure, and Thai occult. Her nuanced understanding of Thai occult was evident even then. Now, with that same insight, Ivy guides readers on a journey exploring Thai occult practices, delving into both ceremonial and folkloric traditions. Her thoughtful examples illuminate the animistic worldview of Thai culture, offering a rich understanding of the relationships between humans and spirits as a living practice.”—Gary Noriyuki Rivas, Ceremonial Tattooist and sorcerer of Quimbanda, Conjure and Thai necromancy at Manticore’s Den
“Thai Spirit Cults: On Shamanism, Mediumship and Spirit Veneration in Thailand is an eloquent and concise introduction to the rich folklore of two of Thailand’s fascinating spirit cults. In an era of exporting deep cultural traditions for esoteric assimilation, Ivy Senna’s thorough, academical, but accessible emic exploration is a breath of fresh air. She speaks not just as a practitioner, but as someone indigenous to the cultural beliefs she is articulating, someone with a profound and personal lived-relationship with this folklore. This pamphlet is an essential reminder of what love applied to cultural preservation looks like, and we are lucky she chose to share that love with us.”— Sasha Ravitch
“This short but crucial work provides erudite insight into some of the religious and cultural foundations of Thai animism. Ivy Senna illuminates the metaphysical context grounding her native tradition, expanding on expressions of shamanic dance and trance mediumship within Thailand. With the increasing popularity of Thai amulets within the broader spheres of Western occulture, Ivy's pamphlet is an excellent example of scholarship which deepens appreciation for the very cultural foundations of satsana phi underlying their sale and promulgation by temples—and, even more critically, the multivalent richness of the countless traditions beyond them.” — Katarina Pejović
Thai Spirit Cults is available from Hadean Press in print as an epub, and will be available for Kindle shortly.
