Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may not be amused by the series of mumbo-jumbo rituals carried out by his opponents who spend their nights conjuring up foul spells to unseat him.

On Thursday night, a group of farmers conducted a ritual at the anti-Thaksin rally to chase away the premier's soul using an effigy wrapped in white yarn. A shaman who wanted him dead performed a funeral rite on a coffin inscribed with the prime minister's name and holy water was sprinkled so Thaksin's spirit could depart without a fight.

The performance drew some giggles from the cynical protesters but for a prime minister known to lend his ear to fortune tellers in troubled times, these rituals performed for thousands in front of Government House are no laughing matter.

According to Thaksin's former astrologer, Samrit Klaokliang, the premier sees black magic as a grave matter.

"Thaksin believes in astrology. He asked me to constantly check the stars before he made any major decision," Samrit said on television this week. Samrit has joined the anti-Thaksin crowd and yesterday went on stage to urge the prime minister to step down.

Unlike others, Samrit's opposition to the PM was informed by the cosmic order.

Samrit said he had based his decision on "the fact that Thaksin's star has been falling". "In fact, it has been falling since November 28 last year," he said. "I told him several times but he wouldn't listen."

Samrit claimed Thaksin had tried to perform some rituals to dispel his bad luck, but insisted that nothing could save the PM from his inevitable downfall. "The bad spell will continue until the end of this month," he said. "But it will be too late if Thaksin doesn't resign soon."

According to Sondhi Limthongkul, PM's Office Minister Newin Chidchob, who is from Buri Ram - Thailand's black magic heartland - has developed a special recipe to help Thaksin through the crisis. The spell is said to have been carried out while Thaksin was riding on an elephant's neck.

But on Wednesday night the coalition mobilised a group of female protesters to step over Thaksin's image on the stage. According to the anti-Thaksin witch doctors, this act - carried out just after midnight - would nullify Newin's spell.

The display of these rituals has spiced up the anti-Thaksin rally, and perhaps even Thaksin himself is intrigued by the inventive spells.