Entering the World of Thai Amulets and Ritual Traditions | Author's Preface

I did not come to know Thai amulets because I was superstitious, nor did I turn to ritual practices because I was in trouble. I simply wanted to know more.

Amulets, ritual lineages, magical practices and sacred oils are often spoken of amid mystery, legend and even fear. After entering this world myself, I found the reality more complicated than the stories—and more deserving of respect. I wrote this book to untangle some of that confusion and record what I experienced firsthand.

I did not write this book to sell amulets, urge anyone to worship a spirit, or claim authority for myself. I am setting down what I have seen and heard over years of encountering Thai ritual settings, ajarn teachers and sacred objects. You need not believe every word, but please do not misunderstand my purpose.

Many people seek what they call a ‘powerful’ amulet. But what do they mean by ritual knowledge? In the traditions discussed here, amulets are not just about wealth or a change of fortune. There are consecration rites, ideas about corresponding energies, vows and consequences, and accounts of agreements with guardian spirits. These ideas form part of the framework the book explores; they are descriptions of belief and practice, not a guarantee of results.

This is a book of sharing, not preaching; a record, not an attempt to glorify anyone. Before you enter this world, I want to give you a chance to consider what it is you are encountering.

Not everything worn around the neck is an amulet.

Not everyone who wears ritual robes knows ritual practice.

If you are willing to keep an open mind, this book will invite you into the world of Thai amulets and ritual traditions.

— Yang Gongzi, author