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Originally Posted by El Gibbon One question. In a previous place the then GF insisted on a new spirit house. I did not pay too much attention to what was going on. The pole and spirit house were replaced. Then a woman came and spent about half a day doing the blessing/installation.
Is it common to replace a spirit house and what might the reasons be? |
Yes, it is common to replace the spirit house when it gets old or damaged. The ceremony will be less of a hassle than the first time.
The replacement date is still very important. You also need two sets of food offerings for the "PhraPhum" - one is for the old spirit house, and another for the new.
As for the woman conducting the ceremony, she could be a "Brahmanee" or someone who specializes in this event. The old spirit house will be taken to the Temple and put under the sacred Bohdi tree.
Note: People sometimes change it just because of a new ownership for the property.
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Originally Posted by kingwillyhggtb so you mean i cannot just go to the shops buy a cheap wooden or plastic one and stick it the ground then?
would that cause bad luck ?
also I've seen the trees by sides of roads which appear to be spirit house grave yards - how are they determined ? and who would 'throw out' a spirit house? |
Well, since it is not a mail box, the answer will have to be "No". You cannot just buy it and stick in the ground. You're better off not to put up any, if a proper ceremony cannot be done. The reason of putting up the spirit house is really for the peace in the home owner's heart.
The trashed houses you see on the road are left for the homeless "ghost". Instead of totally trashing it, people will sometimes leave it by the road for the ghosts that have no place to live. Some of these ghosts died too early, and are in between the human world and hell or heaven.
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Originally Posted by Marmite the dog So, what happens if you don't have a spirit house? |
As with my response to kingwillyhggtb, the real reason of putting up the spirit house is really for the sake of the home owner. Besides, you really don't want the spirit living with you in the main house. It is believed that sometimes the spirits could be strong enough to make you sick, and even cause death. You want to keep them comfortable in their own house, and well fed.
Thais like to believe in somethings that you can't see. They will flock to get a piece of anything that is thought to be holy or sacred. I personally believe that people will only suffer from what they have done to themselves. If I don't want to have any bad luck, I just try not to do any bad thing.