Follow These 5 Taboos to Avoid Seeing Ghosts in the Forest!

Have you ever heard of people telling you not to answer or turn your head back when someone calls your name out in the forest? They may be breathtaking and stunning, but our local rainforests are also a place of deep mystery and reverence. For generations, these forests have been the homes of many spirits, guardians and ancient beings.

Before you step foot into the heart of the jungle, it is best to follow the taboos and unspoken rules that locals alike follow - not necessarily out of fear, but out of respect for the unknown that stay within.

Taboo 1: Use nicknames, avoid your real name and don’t respond to your name when alone.

Taboo 1: Use nicknames, avoid your real name and don’t respond to your name when alone.

The first thing to do when inside a forest is to avoid using your real names when inside the forest! Similarly, if you’re alone and hear someone calling your name from behind, don’t turn your head. It is thought that some spirits may use your name to impersonate your friends or call you out.

Doing this may lead to you going off the path and wandering off because the friend that you are following may actually be a forest spirit! As such, it’s best to use nicknames and to avoid using your real name at any time to avoid unwanted attention

Taboo 2: Don’t disturb the forest or take things from it.

It may seem tempting to take a shiny souvenir from the forest back home, but here’s why that’s a bad idea. Many would say that removing something from the forest could potentially invite misfortune, illness or spiritual attachment into your life. It may seem trivial to assume that a rock or a leaf could bring misfortune, but it’s a possibility that it could be the property of an unseen being.

As such, it’s best to take photos only and explore the forest without touching anyone’s property. You wouldn’t like it if someone came into your home and just took your stuff without asking, would you?

Taboo 2: Don’t disturb the forest or take things from it.

Taboo 3: Don’t joke or make fun of the wildlife

A mystical creature - Kelembai in the forest

Taboo 3: Don’t joke or make fun of the wildlife

Animals can be seen as messengers, guardians or even manifestations of spirits. As such, mocking or making fun of animals in the forest is seen as highly disrespectful, not only to the creatures themselves, but also to the spiritual forces that may be protecting them. There are some beliefs that ridiculing or joking about the wildlife can also lead to misfortune, accidents or even strange occurrences during your stay in the forest.

There was once a story of a group of hunters that made fun of and placed their cigarettes inside a dead monkey. It was told that later that night, an unusual gust of wind came out of nowhere and blew away their camp. Best to just keep quiet.

Taboo 4: Don’t Be Overly Curious

Ever heard the saying, curiosity killed the cat? Well, in the forest, it may lead to your demise! You may find yourself hearing or smelling something weird or off-putting, and be tempted to search for and see what the source is. However, for safety reasons, both spiritually and also physically, it’s best to just keep quiet and let it be.

Additionally, if you feel a chill or smell something overly fragrant or bad, don’t bring it up to your group or friends, as you may accidentally acknowledge the spiritual being and find yourself being followed by “it”.

Taboo 4: Don’t Be Overly Curious

A mysterious box with yellow clothing placed under a tree filled with hanging talismans.

Taboo 5:  Always Ask For Permission

A possessed female in traditional asian village house

Taboo 5:  Always Ask For Permission

As we’ve mentioned before, the forest is the home to many spectral beings or entities and as such, it’s best to ask for permission before entering the forest, much like you would when entering another person’s house! It’s of course done as a symbol of humility and respect, signaling that you are just a visitor and that you mean no harm to the forest.

Similarly, if you find yourself needing to “relieve yourself” in the forest, it’s best to also inform out loud that you need to pee in a particular part of the forest, less you find yourself accidentally doing it over an invisible being!

Ultimately, forests are more than just your natural wonders of the world, they are also living, breathing realms that are steeped in cultural significance and spiritual reverence. By observing these taboos above, you’ll not only respect the beliefs of the religions, but also tread lightly in the spaces that many may consider sacred.


However, if you’re adventurous enough to experience a haunted forest without actually going to one, you can always visit Hauntu The Curve to have a taste of what it’s like without actually breaking any real life taboos!

Contribute Author: Aznir Murad, Marketing Executive & Content Writer

Date: 31 Oct 2024

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