The belief in ancestral spirits of Nong Tuen villagers greatly affected their social conditions and lifestyles. They strongly believed in and were afraid of these spirits. Appeasement rituals were conducted every second and sixth lunar months of the year. The rituals on the second lunar month were meant to ask the spirits for abundance of water before the rice cultivation season, and those on the sixth month were intended to thank the spirits after the harvesting season. Rituals were conducted to ask for forgiveness whenever social taboos were broken or violated. The spirits also acted as a spiritual refuge of the villagers who asked them for favors or protection. The spirits usually helped them when they had problems or difficulties. Therefore, the appeasement rituals were an expression of gratitude toward the spirits as well as to create collaboration and unity among the villagers. Jam was the representative of the spirits, who also mediated conflicts and created unity in the community. Furthermore, their beliefs enabled the community to maintain a balanced ecological system in the community forested area (pp. 4, 21, 22, 44, 80, 82).