Spirit House
A spirit house is a shrine dedicated to spirits who may cause problems for the living if they are not properly appeased. These structures range from miniature models to buildings large enough for people to enter. They typically contain symbolic images and statues, with offerings left to calm the resident spirits. Most homes and businesses feature spirit houses in carefully selected locations—often in dedicated outdoor spaces. Ideally, they are placed in front of a tree and should never be situated to the left of a door, facing a toilet, or directly facing a road. These locations are often chosen only after intense consultation with a Brahmin priest. One of the most famous spirit houses is the Erawan Shrine, which sits on the grounds of the Erawan Hotel in Bangkok. It was constructed to ward off the streak of bad luck that had hampered the hotel’s initial construction. Daily rituals involve providing the spirits with food and drink each morning. While fruits are the most common ...