My superstitious Irish heritage was reinforced by an upbringing in New England. Witches have hung from Salem trees and ghosts haunted the abandoned farmlands near my suburban Boston home. Now Salem’s occult market reaps millions and the cow pastures have been razed for giant houses. Fat people don’t have time to be scared by the past.

Living in Thailand has revived my interest in the spiritual.

After a little bad luck my wife gave me a coin from the Rama V era. The silver piece made an interesting necklace. Thais approved of the coin, saying it wards off evil, although such talisman were never intended for such a purpose. Better they stay in the house so their power isn’t dissipated by travel.

I keep mine in my office, but thousands of Thais have been swept up in the Jatukam Ramathep amulet mania.

Being spiritual requires leading a good life, however the raped modernization the last twenty years have altered many profound customs in Thailand. People only have time for fast religion like fast food and the Jatukam Ramathep amulets are reputed to bestow magical gifts on the wearer simply for purchasing a talisman.

The Jatukam amulets debuted 20 years ago in Nakhon Si Thammarat as a creation of a respected ie honest police officer with a feel of mysticism. The amulets were made from the ashes of incense. No one can explain their recent popularity, however religious traders have been traded the Jatukam amulets like Mickey Mantle baseball cards in the 80s. Speculation has led to a 100-fold appreciation of some ‘special editions’.

Big money.

1% of the Thai GNP is devoted to this frenzy.

Of course the sale of religious memorabilia is nothing new.

Martin Luther’s famous Edict of worms descried the sale of penance and absolution as an abomination against God.

Buddhism is considered a struggle to reach nothingness and many spiritual leaders regard the craze as an easy fix to salve the worries of a world gone mad.

Especially those with names like ‘get rich’ or ‘big money’.

This is not about good deeds done dirty cheap, but instant salvation from wearing a tea plate for good luck.

Much like a rapper with his giant Benz symbol.

It’s all about the money.

You got, I want.

Anyway I can get it.

Of course like any bubble the Jatukam Ramathep Amulet Craze is bound to deflate or pop. The amulets will go into the drawer or slipped into a safe for another era of ultimate greed and immediate ease.

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