The ideas behind this project began in Thailand. My journey across the South was interesting in many ways but something which has stayed prominent in my thoughts since are the shrines. The way they dot the sides of busy high ways, sit upon fridges in restaurants and in gardens and shops. They were everywhere. When there I spoke to locals and discovered some of the shrines I saw were actually called spirit houses. There was something about their presence across the country that was magical to me.

Below are notes from further reading I have done online surrounding spirit houses in Asia:

Although Thailand is pre-dominantly Buddhist, there are many beliefs and customs which owe nothing to Buddhism, but have roots in Hindu and/or Animist beliefs.

Daily Offerings

• Must be high enough to show respect, but low enough so they are in reach to make offerings.
• Offerings can be in the form of incense, flowers, garlands, food and drinks.

Spirits

• Spirits of the home (phi ruan) can be trusted to behave and therefore can reside in the family home.
• Spirits of the land reside in the spirit houses.
• Trusted spirits are thought to be deceased family members and they are accorded a special place in the home.
• This is often on a shelf high up where fresh flowers and drinks will be provided.
• Many of the ghosts that get up to no good are thought to be the spirits of dead people who failed to be reborn. 

Animism

Animism (from Latin anima, “breath, spirit, life“)^[1][2] is the religious belief that the “objects”, the ‘”places” and the “creatures” all possess a distinct spiritual essence.

Potentially, animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork and perhaps even words—as animated and alive. Animism is used in the anthropology of religion as a term for the belief system of many indigenous peoples, especially in contrast to the relatively more recent development of organised religions.