Sai Sin is a sacred white thread used in Thailand, seen in ceremonial contexts. Often they r used in Buddhist rituals, especially when setting up altars for protection and purification. The thread is made from cotton or silk and is believed to carry spiritual significance. The thread is often wrapped around the altar or tied around sacred objects such as Buddha images, amulets, or offerings. The main belief is that the Sai Sin acts as a protective force, guarding the area from negative energy, evil spirits, or misfortune. Sai Sin is also frequently used in “Songkran” (the Thai New Year) and “Wai Khru” ceremonies, where it is tied around the wrists of participants to bless them. The cords have different meanings depending on their color and where you obtain them. There is significance to the “endless circle” symbology of the thread tied around a wrist or neck and around the head in ceremonies (the cyclical nature of all things & samsara notably). 

To me, though, these threads, especially on altars and among crowds, also seem to make the liminal / groundlessness visible. This subject has been the matter of my paintings for years on end. Painting spaces in between spaces, painting that which can only be imagined and unseen. The visual of threads tied to a Buddha figure goes beyond what I read in the magick books about connection to the divine. To me, it also demonstrates our inherent interconnectedness to everything and every one we interact with. To the air itself. To nature.

Yesterday, i sat in prayer and blessed string and cords- a suggestion that came to me through a client. I gently tied the cords above the doorway and to the ceiling above the table. it’s the start of a protection grid for the practice and all who enter. Through this process, I felt connected to thousands of people around the world who have participated in creating these grids. It was raw and an energetically intense process that felt more accessible to me than painting right now. I’m so grateful for the suggestions & support in my explorations of magick and healing. May we find stability in groundlessness. May we be protected and free.