Pagan Thai refers to the traditional religious beliefs and practices of the Thai people prior to the introduction of Buddhism. These ancient animistic beliefs were practiced by the Thai ethnic group, as well as various other ethnic groups in present-day Thailand. Pagan Thai believed in a multitude of spirits and deities that inhabited the natural world. They believed that these spirits had the power to influence various aspects of life, including agriculture, health, and fortune. As such, they would often perform rituals and make offerings to these spirits to seek their blessings or protection. One of the central figures in Pagan Thai belief was the village spirit, which was believed to reside in a specific location within the village.

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One of the central figures in Pagan Thai belief was the village spirit, which was believed to reside in a specific location within the village. The village spirit was considered the guardian of the community, and offerings and ceremonies were conducted to appease and seek protection from this spirit. Another important aspect of Pagan Thai belief was the worship of ancestral spirits.

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Pagan

Serves meat, vegan options available. Burrmese/Thai restaurant offers plenty of vegetarian menu items; most (if not all) of which are vegan. Open Tue-Sun 5:00pm-8:30pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm. Closed Mon.

3199 Clement St , San Francisco , California , USA , 94121

• Reservations required
• Accepts credit cards

4 Reviews

First Review by Sassyvegan

Charming place with some tasty vegan options - Edit

Several vegan options on both the Thai and Burmese menus. The stuffed tofu was wonderful. Service was a little odd with a main coming out at the same time as an appetizer then the other main not being ready until after we’d eaten the first main and appetizer - but kind of added to the charm.

Pros: Tasty vegan options, $3 beer (in a can), Lovely atmosphere

Cons: Vegan items not marked , Serves meat

Guest

So unique - Edit

I had the stuffed tofu (which was vegan according to staff - the online menu says it has dried shrimp) and it was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it on any menu. Worth coming just for that, though the tea leaf salad and spicy Thai noodles were good as well.

Pros: Stuffed tofu!, Easy-ish parking (for SF)

Cons: Needs more vegan options , Needs to clearly mark vegan options on the menu

Guest

Amazing Restaurant. - Edit

From the noodles to the curry to the rice, I can’t get enough of this place!!

They have a “Vegetarian Section” which is all vegan, and they have a large selection of things that they can make vegan!

Also, the family that owns the restaurant is incredible friendly, and the place itself has a beautiful view of the park next door!

The food is healthy, cheap, well portioned, and simply DELICIOUS. Couldn’t ask for better food! I have gone three days this week already…

Updated from previous review on 2022-06-10

Pros: Lots of Vegan Options, Quality fresh food, Great portions and delicious flavors

Modern Paganism in Thailand

BANGKOK, THAILAND – In the heart of the Southeast Asian peninsula lies the Kingdom of Thailand. Once known as Siam, Thailand is now considered a constitutional monarchy the size of Spain, with a population 65 million. The country lies only a short distance north of the equator, which allows for its lush, green and tropical climate. Within Thailand’s rich and vibrant Southeast Asian culture, there lies a very small, but growing, Pagan community.

Thailand Pagan Pride Ritual [Courtesy Photo>

“I found Siam Wicca in 1999, and the people there were so open-mind and loved to share their experiences. The community grew wider and wider. We had many beliefs, not only Wicca [but also] Native Thai, Druid, Shaman, Asatru, etc. After the founder of Siam Wicca left the site…the remaining people, including me, ran a new webboard and started meeting once a month. The community has grown since then,” said Atiwan Kongsorn, a Pagan living in Bangkok and co-owner of the only witchcraft store in Thailand.

Kongsorn explained that Siam Wicca was originally founded by Thitiwat Netwong, known in the community as Fianne. The site was part of the “first wave” of Paganism to arrive in Thailand via the Internet in the late 1990s. At that time, Siam Wicca was simply a website that, as Kongsorn said, “provided knowledge about Wicca’s beliefs translated into Thai.” The site also hosted “web boards” for community discussion.

After a few years, Fianne left the group, and as Kongsorn noted, it was later discovered that he had died. However, Siam Wicca continued to operate for a period of time, eventually moving to Facebook. Followers began meeting more frequently, and a new group was formed called Thailand Pagan Pride. Eclectic Wiccan Thanchai Jaikong, also known as MasThander, said, “We only use the [Facebook] page to promote events or news that can be posted in public.”

Like many places in the world, life as a Pagan in Thailand has its obstacles. MasThander said, “Being a witch or a pagan in Thailand will make you [a] deviant. Most people don’t understand who you are and what you do. So you have to stick to your own people who share the same spiritual understanding. That is what makes our community strong. We have to stick together.”

However, the assumption of deviancy is not exactly the same as experienced by Pagans in other parts of the world. Why? As reported by the tourism department, 96.4 percent of the population is Buddhist, which fosters a very different religious cultural environment than in countries dominated by Christianity. Kongsorn said, “Most of scholars say the main religion in Thailand is Buddhism (Theravada Buddhism to be precise). In my opinion, people believe in native Thai animism mixed with Buddhism. It is like animism disguised as Buddhism.”

Ace of Cups Witch Cafe [Courtesy Photo]

As such, both Kongsorn and MasThander agreed that the general population’s attitude toward modern Paganism is fairly positive or, at the very least, open. There are no religious-based hostilities embedded within Thai culture. They even note that the term “witch” is not really considered a negative. Kongsorn said, “The sweetest thing for Pagans in Thailand is that you can freely tell everybody that you are a Pagan. Thai people are open-minded. ‘Every religion leads people to good deeds.’ Thai people always say this. So as long as you have something to believe or something to worship, everything is fine.”

Despite this religious tolerance, there are still, as noted by MasThander, many cases of misunderstandings that have lead to accusations of deviancy. However, these negative experiences not based on religious expectations but on cultural differences. As MasThander explained, “Thai people at almost every level lack the knowledge about Paganism and Witchcraft, especially when we talk about the western Paganism or witchcraft that is now growing in Thailand. People think about Harry Potter or that kind of fictional thing. That’s our main hurdle; to explain the right identity to the community.”

Kongsorn agreed, explaining that while the term “witch” is not negative, it does conjure, so to speak, images of “silliness.” He said, “Thai people here know the term “witch” (the western witch) from movies, cartoons or books. Not quite evil but something far from their everyday life.” MasThander added, “These points of view are not troublesome or harmful, but it is irritating sometimes.”

Along with Buddhism, Thailand’s culture is also influenced by “Vedic Hinduism, Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism from India. Taoism, Confucianism, Mahayana Buddhism from China.” As Kongsorn said that because of “the existing belief in animism, [the belief in] magic still exists nowadays. [Thai people] like the Shamans, or witch doctors, who help people using herbs, rituals or talismans.”

While both Kongsorn and MasThander acknowledge and celebrate these rich aspects of their country’s culture, they do not regularly include the religious details do not directly influence their own modern Pagan practices. This particular growing Thai Pagan community is predominantly focused on western Pagan practice. The dominant religion is currently Wicca. However, Kongsorn said, “Some are Druid and Asatru. I met a guy who practices Santeria once … and there other are solitary pagans, like myself.” There are several Wiccan covens, but the number of practitioners is unclear. Kongsorn said “maybe hundreds” and most are under the age of 35.

The majority of their educational material, including mythology and writings, originate from Europe and the U.S. Access to the Internet has not only launched the Thai Pagan movement, but has also continued to play a vital role as the community grows. MasThander found Wicca through witchvox.com and, as noted earlier, Kongsorn discovered his path through the Siam Wicca’s website. Today there is far more material available to them online, and more people have Internet access.

In addition, there are several English-language book stores in Bangkok, such as Kinokuniya and Asiabook, which offer small number of “new age” books. In 2013, Kongsorn and his business partners opened the Ace of Cups Witch Cafe in Bangkok, which is described as the “perfect place for any pagan and individual who interested in Pagan, Witchcraft and Spiritual development.”

Thai Pagan Pride Altar [Courtesy Photo]

Because Thai Pagans are not living in U.S. or the U.K., from where most of these materials originate, Thai Pagans have had to adapt the works and suggested practices to reflect their own ecology, culture and natural experiences. Kongsorn said, “As you know we live in a tropical climate with actually two seasons, wet and dry. There is not much difference between the seasons. It always green here … It’s a bit struggle [to follow the Western practices] if you stick with the concept of the physical world. In my opinion, the Wheel of the Year not only represents the cycle of Mother Nature, but also represents the cycle of one’s own spiritual improvement. If you stick with this concept [instead], there is no struggle at all.”

MasThander agreed, saying, “We try our best to follow the original rituals. But it’s somewhat difficult or impossible due to the geographical differences. But we try to focus on the spiritual meaning of the rituals and symbols; what everything in the ritual really means and does to our both physical and spiritually life.”

Both MasThander and Kongsorn expressed excitement about the growth of the modern Pagan movement in Thailand. Both are both doing their part to support and welcome anyone who is interested in the community and their practices. MasThander said, “For non-Pagan people, we try to offer a better understanding of who we really are. And for other Witches or those who are interested in the Craft, we try to bring them into our community, so we can help and support them.”

Kongsorn uses his shop as a place to welcome the community and to “provide information to the public about Pagan beliefs, mysticism and occultism.” He added, “We are trying to set up a Pagan Association here in Thailand … There will be a meeting here about setting it up this Ostara. Pagan beliefs in Thailand are just a little sprout. We now need the support and guidance from other countries.”

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About Heather Greene

Heather is a writer, film historian, editor, and journalist, living in the Deep South. She is an acquisitions editor at Llewellyn Publishing and the author of the book "Bell, Book, and Camera." She has collaborated with Lady Liberty League, and formerly served as Public Information Officer for Covenant of the Goddess. She has a masters degree in Film Theory, Criticism and History from Emory University with a background in the performing and visual arts.

It was believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors continued to have an influence on the lives of the living, and offerings and ceremonies were performed to honor and communicate with these spirits. Pagan Thai rituals and ceremonies were often performed by spirit mediums, individuals who were believed to have the ability to communicate with and channel the spirits. These mediums would enter a trance-like state and act as a vessel for the spirit to communicate and provide guidance. With the introduction and spread of Buddhism in Thailand, Pagan Thai beliefs gradually merged and assimilated with Buddhist teachings. Today, most Thais identify as Buddhists, but elements of Pagan Thai beliefs and practices still persist in rural communities and are sometimes incorporated into Buddhist rituals. Overall, Pagan Thai was a rich and complex spiritual tradition that connected the Thai people to the natural world and their ancestors. Despite the influence of Buddhism, the legacy of Pagan Thai continues to shape the religious and cultural landscape of Thailand..

Reviews for "The Role of Paganism in Thai Traditional Wedding Ceremonies"

1. Sarah - 1 star - I had such a disappointing experience at Pagan Thai. The food was bland and tasteless, completely lacking in any authentic Thai flavors. The service was also incredibly slow, with our food taking forever to arrive. The restaurant itself was cramped and had a strange smell. Overall, I would not recommend Pagan Thai to anyone looking for a true Thai dining experience.

2. Mark - 2 stars - I was really excited to try Pagan Thai, but I was left underwhelmed by the food. The Pad Thai I ordered lacked any depth of flavor, and the curry was watery and lacked the rich and fragrant spices that I expected. The portion sizes were also rather small for the price we paid. I was disappointed with the overall quality and taste of the dishes, and I don't think I'll be returning to Pagan Thai anytime soon.

3. Jennifer - 2 stars - Pagan Thai fell short of my expectations. The service was slow and inattentive, with the staff seeming to be disinterested in providing a good experience. The food was mediocre at best, with most dishes lacking the authentic flavors I was hoping for. The ambiance of the restaurant was also lacking, with the dim lighting and dated decor giving it a dingy feel. I was left unimpressed and wouldn't recommend Pagan Thai to anyone seeking an authentic Thai dining experience.

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