khwan(In traditional Thai beliefs, "khwan" is an invisible spirit that lives within each person and which are responsible for psychological and spiritual well-being. Losing your "khwan" (ขวัญหาย) is thought to cause health or mental problems. Unfortunately, "khwan" is easily frightened and any scary or unnerving experience can easily cause them to flee the body to safety. To keep "khwan" inside of you, or to coax it back once it's fled, it's necessary to feel safe, peaceful and at ease. Babies and young children are the most at risk and are particularly prone to losing their "khwan". If so, it falls to their parents (usually the mother) to bring it back by protectively holding their child and saying ขวัญเอ้ยขวัญมา ("Oh Khwan, come back!") until the child feels at ease again. The belief that "khwan" lies in the head is in part responsible for the Thai taboo of touching people on the head, as doing so could easily upset and scare their "khwan" away. Perhaps the most common one learners come across relating to "khwan" is ของขวัญ "present ; gift" which literally means "something for your khwan".)
