Seven Ways to Attract Good Fortune in the Ghost Month of August

Burning joss sticks and paper money, also known as hell’s money, is said to appease ghosts. It is believed to be a sign of good will for them and will stop them from getting your real money. In Chinese culture and tradition, burning incense accompanied with prayers attracts good luck all year round.

Hungry ghosts that wander during the ghost month are not literally bad and don’t really want to harm the living. Instead, they are spirits who might have not received proper burial rites and are envious of the mortals. To appease them, prepare food offerings with chicken, pork, and fruits at dusk or before nightfall. You may do this as often as possible to keep away the bad luck caused by hungry ghosts.

During the first week of the lunar month, visit your dead relatives’ graves to offer prayers, fruits, and incense. It will satisfy them knowing you still remember them after they’re gone. You may also go to churches and temples often to ask for protection after offering flowers and food. After the Hungry Ghost Month, it is mandatory to burn the food and money and donate the coins to churches and temples.

Those who are seeking extra protection from bad luck can display figurines of strong deities known to fight evil. A Chung Kwei statue can help ward off evil spirits as well as people with bad intentions. On the other hand, a statue of Kuan Kung (or Guan Gong), the Chinese God of War, provides protection to people who display them in their homes and offices. It is best to put them facing the entrance of homes and workplaces to avoid fraud, build better relationships in the area, and to keep an eye on everyone who comes and goes out of your space.

Feng shui experts advise everyone to keep a positive energy. This is because people drowned in negative thoughts attract playful ghosts who are on the lookout for weak souls to possess. To brighten up the mood, stay in a brightly-lit environment. You may reinvent your room or condo with new paint and bed sheets in bright and quirky colors. Remember to do the revamp before ghost month arrives to avoid bad luck. You may also leave the light on while you sleep to keep your space bright.

Aside from amulets and feng shui figurines, it is also believed that ghosts are afraid of rock salt. Spread a generous amount of it at your home and office doorstep as well as outside your windows to keep the ghosts from visiting your space.

You don’t necessarily need to halt your normal life because of the ghost month. It is not wise to miss good opportunities, too. However, take each step with all possible safety measures by planning early and carefully. The most important thing to remember is to never start anything during the ghost month, when the spirits are at their most powerful state. Projects like construction work that started early before the ghost month may be continued. On the other hand, businessmen who really need to start a new venture must consult a feng shui expert first to align the opening dates with their birthdates.