Communication with the dead requires the necromancer to stand astride the rift between life and death and, in some ways, become the half-dead themselves so that exchange between the realms can take place.

Necromancy can become an extreme and abominable force, in which the tethers of magic are corrupted to inevitably dark ends through the manipulation of forces of death and decay, potent energies culled from the outer realms, channeled by its practitioners to harvest soul energy, bring the dead back from the beyond.

Death encompasses so much more than physical death. Death is another side of life

The energy of death, termed spectral energy, is released or created when a cycle of “life” is ended and begun anew in another form and is always co-existent with the force of life that which is living is also dying. Due to this fact Earth is the realm of both the living and the dead though the dead exist out of phase with the living.

The necromancer specializes in ability to manipulate necrotic or spectral energy, a potent arcanist with the ability to harness the undead for personal use.

These spirits wander in their spheres, others trying to incarnate themselves, others, again already incarnated and living on earth; these are often vicious and imperfect men. evoked by necromancy.

Guman Thong created by Luang Phor Tae for example contain the spirits of men, not children as is the common belief.

This type of working in necromancy is referred to as Fetishism in which the spirits or energies of the dead are manipulated by, bound to or contained in objects. This differs from incantation in which the necromancer uses chant or mantra to take control of and shape the ambient energies of his art to produce an occult effect. Necromancy is a universal practice of great antiquity, only the profoundly initiated should attempt as it is without doubt the darkest and most dangerous forms of black magic, something history has taught us numerous times.

Though Buddhism is not often thought of as a religion that practices magic, in such communities as those found in Thailand and Cambodia, there can be no doubt that Buddhism shares common ground with belief systems that are primarily associated with the use of magic. Both countries have a long history of engagement in spiritualist and animistic magical practices. When Buddhism first arrived in these areas it came into contact with pre-existent traditions that believed in spirits, both benevolent and malevollent. The religious traditions of Thailand have always included the belief in spirits and the ability to manipulate them by means of magic Thai belief does not only consist of beneficial Gods and spirits. It also abounds with belief in ferocious spirits of pure malevolence, from who the villagers seek magical protection, and some seek to manipulate for their own purpose.

Before Hinduism and Buddhism were introduced into Thailand there was only one religious belief, that belief was that a spirit world existed, not only did the spirits exist but they were mightily powerful and controlling, this belief is called Animism and it manifests itself in the form of spirit worship. It might not be strictly correct to call Animism a religion, maybe it is better categorized as a spiritual belief (spirit worship), but it is without doubt the oldest form of worship known to mankind, ‘Spirit Worship’ in one form or another was practiced long before all the popular world religions.

The majority religion in Thailand is Buddhism, 95 percent of the population are Buddhist but the percentage of Thais who have animist beliefs is probably slightly higher. Animism is practiced on a daily basis by most Thai people, although their religion is Buddhism they actually devote more of their time to Animist beliefs than they do practicing Buddhism.

Amongst these classes of malevolent spirits are such beings as the preed (a giant, looming shape with a small head that emits a sharp, piercing sound, as a reflection of its past sins), the phii krasy (a type of parasite which inhabits human bodies, feeds on excrement, and is shaped like a human head with entrails protruding from beneath), and the phii baan (the ghosts of ancestors that hover around their previous home and watch their descendants with malignant jealousy).

The Thai Sangha itself traffics heavily in magic The main doctrinal link between Buddhism and the Spirit religions is the use of the occult as a means by which to transfer merit.

Merit-by-association

Meeting an unnatural or violent end on a Saturday, coupled with a Tuesday cremation, is believed to result in an extremely powerful, unendingly restless spirit. Through rituals and incantations, adepts of these dark sciences  channel spirits, and craft powerful amulets and effigies, such as Guman Thong.

These spirits find themselves enslaved or otherwise indentured to the service of their new owners, and in turn, the owners provide them with the opportunity to escape their circumstances through a form of merit-by-association, a symbiotic relationship where the spirit shares its owner’s Buddhist riches as they are gathered through charity, prayer, offerings to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, as well as the peace and liberating powers from meditation.

The practice of reversing the poor tidings of a sordid existence through sorcery in this manner is known as “kae klet”. Ajarn Pleung Boonyuen is a widely-regarded Master of the form, able to effortlessly harness these dangerous forces and put them to work bettering the well-being and overall quality of life of their owners.

Do not be fooled however, into believing that all these macabre pursuits lead down a benevolent path. Many a time, these skills are also put to use sowing sickness and death among an exponent’s enemies, as well as forcing them to bend to the will of the user. The corpse oil of a pregnant woman, for instance, when dabbed lightly on a victim, may be used to inspire deranged sexual devotion, even in the face of totally unwarranted advances.

Nam Man Prai – Corpse Oil

We will discuss Nam Man Prai (Corpse’s Oil) in the 2nd part of this article but briefly there are significant dangers associated with this death magic. To harness Nam Man Prai  the oil would traditionally be sourced from a woman who died during pregnancy. The oil is extracted by gingerly heating the chin of the corpse with candles, while a litany of occult spells and incantation are recited.

The sorcerer attempting the ritual must seal off the area with all his might, to ensure that he himself does not succumb to the cornucopia of otherworldly, evil, and destructive entities that the ritual attracts. Not only does he need a strong grasp of Wicha, but he must also have an iron will and steely resolve, as grotesque forms from above and beyond the void will manifest, and seek him out like moths to a flame.  They seek to distract him and cause him to lose his concentration, killing or driving him insane in the process. An unspeakable fate awaits him, should his resolve crumble, as he might well be dragged into the dark abyss from whence they came.

Methods used to imbue spiritual powers in amulets

Three main methods are used to imbue spiritual powers in amulets: Through intense meditation. The Visuddhimagga Sutta, explains in explicit detail, how supernatural abilities may be achieved through the attainment of successive states of jhana(mental concentration), and using mental powers to alter reality by affecting the 4 base elements; Earth, Air, Water, and Fire.

Through inscriptions and incantations whose powers have been amplified through long, successive lineages of teachers, students, and their patron deities. Harnessing the energies of spirits; either elementals and intrinsic, such spirits of the Earth, Wind, and Trees, or Human in nature. Such amulets/effigies often rely on the restless nature of wandering spirits to amplify their powers.

Caring for amulets that draw their powers from these human spirits, is no small undertaking. Strict rules have to be followed, to mitigate mishandling and the resulting problems. Before bringing the amulet across the threshold of your home for the first time, prayers must be made to the Buddhas, Deities and Guardians, to allow your new spirits to pass through unscathed. Make a prior offering of 16 incense sticks outside the house for all the deities, or 9 incense sticks in front of the spirit house outside your home. Offer 3 incense sticks for the Buddha, and other deities in the altar of your house, as well.

Request permission to bring the amulets with the human spirits into the house. If this step is not performed, the spirits residing within the amulet will not be able to enter the house. Be careful to segregate your spirit amulets from your Buddhist amulets, and make sure to store them one level below any Buddhist saints and deities at all times. Do not place the spirit amulets in or around your bedroom, or anywhere else you might lay your head. Perform a Khanhaceremony (refer to our article on Khanha ceremony). Offerings of food and drinks must be made to the spirits at least once a month.

In Thailand, sorcerers are known to invoke dark rituals to bind spirits of the dead to an amulet and harness their energies to carry out everything from protection, to sabotage, to mundane tasks like home security. These spirits may even be unleashed in duels against other sorcerers. Most commonly, however, these amulets are used to attract wealth, and ward off danger. Not all the souls of the dead may be used for these purposes. The manner in which they passed, is often a prerequisite, as certain circumstances enhance or even imbue them with supernatural powers. Those who expired under untoward circumstances, such as violence, unjust causes, suicide or stillbirth, are often preferred, as well as those who fulfil the oddly specific circumstance of passing on a Saturday and being cremated on Tuesday. Spirits who have passed away from natural causes, such as old age or sickness, are often passed over from consideration, in the practice of necromancy.

On Buddhist Uposathadays, observation of precepts, meditation, an offering of alms to monks and temples must be made, and the resulting merit should be shared with the spirits residing within your amulets. This will help to prevent them from turning malicious, and enhance their powers. Be disciplined, and remember, spirits have free will too. Testing their limits by breaking their requisite protocol, will likely result in them wreaking havoc upon your life. As spirits are also beings who need sustenance, if they do not get it forms of offerings, havoc may result, as they will seek sustenance by draining your life force. In benign cases, the amulets will turn ineffective. Always deliver on any promises you make to your spirits.

Be mindful that your spirits are merely following your example. Doing good deeds will encourage them to follow you down the path of righteousness. Misdeeds, however… A healthy amount of bravery is a prerequisite. To invite spirits into your life is to accept that paranormal activity will become a normal facet of your everyday existence. These incidents should, in fact, be treated as a means of determining the satisfaction and fulfilment of your spirits’ lives, as a happy, healthy, spirit will bond with its owner and choose to stay by their sides at all times. If your spirits are dead quiet, it’s probably because they are somewhere else causing a ruckus. You should be extremely concerned. It is also a form of communication on their part.

Perhaps you had not been performing merits for them, or if you had forgotten food offerings for some time. If so, gently voice out that you will do it soon and to leave you in peace for the time being. However, do remember to do the offerings as soon as possible. Necromancy amulets are definitely not suitable for everyone, and we would strongly advise against surrounding yourself with too many of them. Bear in mind, that just as with any other form of an amulet, these restless companions are not a cure-all for your misdeeds, merely an enhancement for the good you strive towards. Do good, and you will find much good coming your way in return.