Animists believe that conscious spirits with powers over humans exist throughout their surroundings. Some spirits are protective and beneficial, others are potentially harmful. By adopting the correct way of life, and making offerings to enlist the help of good spirits, life will be harmonious. The tribes also believe that certain members of their society are able to communicate with this complex spirit world, and these shaman are of great importance to everyone's quality of life. For most of northern Thailand's mountain peoples, paying respect to the spirit of one's dead ancestors is of the greatest importance.
Death is seen as a passage into the spirit world, and is celebrated as such with careful ceremony.
All the groups make sacrificial offerings to their guardian spirits usually by presenting food, such as chickens and pigs. These offerings are very important to ensure as problem-free a life as possible. The gap between these beliefs and the Christian liturgy of angels, devils, priests and offerings is indeed smaller than it would appear on the surface. Among women, complications in childbirth are the most common cause of death, and infant mortality is very high. The average number of births per couple is six, partly to offset infant mortality.