It’s August, and aside from it being a rainy month, it’s also the time when Ghost Month usually falls. “For the Chinese, and in a lot of parts of Eastern Asia, the belief is that Ghost Month is when the gods of the underworld release the souls of the dead back to Earth,” explains Patrick Lim Fernandez, feng shui expert and owner of the Yin & Yang Shop of Harmony in Makati City. “It happens on the seventh lunar month. This year, the Ghost Month starts on August 4 and ends on September 2.”
This period is also called the Hungry Ghost Month “because [the spirits] are said to be always hungry and looking to consume the food and drink that they had enjoyed while they were still here on Earth,” explains Fernandez.
Many people associate Ghost Month with being unlucky. “People think that it’s unequivocally inauspicious, [but] I would say it could be more neutral, depending on your perspective. The reason is that our loved ones come back here to Earth as well. These are our ancestors and our loved ones who have passed on. There are, however, also spirits like the wandering spirits or the not-so-pleasant ones who are also back here on Earth. These are the spirits that are not at peace. And this is where usually the attention of Ghost Month goes: to the not-so-positive ones or the malevolent ones,” he adds.
Some of these spirits can be mischievous, so the Ghost Month can be unpredictable and unexpected things can happen. This is why it’s not advisable to start something big or life-changing, like signing contracts or moving to a new house, during this time.
For Fernandez, the Ghost Month is a good time to stay home “because of the wandering spirits. If you’re out, especially late at night, there’s a higher chance of encountering these spirits versus if you just stay at home.”
Fernandez shares that there are two polarities of energy present in the natural world: the yang energy and the yin energy. “Yang has to do with things that happen during the day, things that are bright, things that are alive. The yin energy has to do with the opposite, things that are dark, cold. [The spirits] are attracted to this yin energy.”
Therefore, keep the lights on at the entrance and in other areas of the house to help ward off wandering spirits. Patrick adds that it’s okay to turn your lights off when you’re asleep, but remember to aim to keep your home well-lit after the sun sets.
“There are a couple of sectors in the house that, for the whole year, there is something to be mindful of. And for the year 2024, the year of the Wood Dragon, it’s the West and the Southeast areas of the home,” explains Patrick. He adds that the west area has the “disaster energy,” which makes things go awry, while the southeast has the “sickness energy.”
Thus, it is best to avoid these areas of the home if you can. “You can find creative ways to arrange [your furniture] for this year so that you avoid sitting or spending a lot of time in those areas, especially for Ghost Month when things become unpredictable and risks run higher. You would want to minimize risk as much as possible,” the feng shui expert recommends.
During this month, as the spirits try to consume food and drink, it is common for people to prepare offerings for the deceased. These offerings are usually various types of ceremonial food and beverages as well as incense money (kim).
Fernandez recommends doing the offerings at the temple or cemetery because these are the right places for this activity. “Do not make these offerings in your home. If you do so, you run the risk of inviting all sorts of spirits in, and you wouldn’t want that.”
Fernandez says a safety medallion can help keep wandering spirits from entering your home. “You can also put it in your wallet…so when you’re out and about, this will help repel some of that energy.” For more information regarding this medallion, you can visit Yin & Yang Shop of Harmony at New World Hotel, Makati City.
Aside from starting construction, buying a home, getting married, and other life-changing events, here are more ways to safeguard your well-being during this month.
Fernandez says it is believed that whistling when you’re out is like a welcome call to the wandering spirits. Meanwhile, loud singing is disturbing for them.
The feng shui expert explains that large bodies of water at night is a haven for yin energy, which attracts wandering spirits. It is best not to plan any late-night swimming, especially in lakes or seas, this month.
“Try to avoid wearing all-dark clothes because the yin energy these colors exude tend to attract these not-so-positive spirits. Try to wear light colored clothing, especially when you go out late at night,” Fernandez recommends.
If you’re walking outside and you see a coin lying on the road, just leave it there. “In the olden times, people would make these offerings, especially coins, and put [them] on the street. And these are meant for the spirits, the hungry ghosts,” Fernandez narrates. “If you pick them up, [the spirits] will feel that you’re taking their money. So, try to avoid doing that.”
The Ghost Month may be deemed inauspicious, and avoiding life-changing events and activities that tend to invite wandering spirits can help you minimize risk during this time. But Fernandez also adds that this month can also be a time to remember your deceased loved ones.
“Because of the word ‘ghost,’ we think of things that are scary and things that are malevolent and bad for us. But when we think about loved ones who have passed on, this is our chance to reconnect with them in a way because they are back here on Earth. It’s a chance for us to remember them and be with them in spirit as it may,” Fernandez shares on a positive note.
Main photo by Ed Simon.
Read more: More Ghost Month Tips for Your Home (Part 2)
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