The Dos and Don’ts of Ghost Month, Beyond The Superstitions

As we enter the month of August, feng shui expert Johnson Chua guides us through the beliefs and traditions of Ghost Month.

Earlier this year, a friend of mine boldly proclaimed that they were going to open a business this August. “Let’s go Ghost Month!” they exclaimed, daring to defy the belief that you shouldn’t start a business during this time period. I have yet to see if they’d be successful, but that does have me wondering: What is Ghost Month, exactly? And why should we exercise caution when it’s this time of the year?

“The full phrase is actually ‘Ghost Month Festival,’” says feng shui expert Johnson Chua. Similar to Mexico’s Día de los Muertos or Cambodia’s Pchum Ben, Ghost Month Festival, also known as Hungry Ghost Festival, is a month when we honor the dead through prayers and offerings. 

With roots in both Taoism and Buddhism, the festival is widely celebrated in China and Chinese-speaking countries.  In Buddhist tradition, there’s a legend of a monk named Mu Lian, whose mother was sent to hell for eating meat as a vegetarian. The only way to ease her torment was through prayers and food offerings.

Celebrated in the 7th month of the lunar calendar, it brings a different energy to the land of the living. “The gates of hell open,” he says. But in the context of Ghost Month, this simply means that the spirits of the dead are allowed to wander the earth. “The beauty of Ghost Month Festival is that we honor the dead with food, offer them prayer, respect, everything.”

Why do we exercise caution?

While Chua says that there are no strict dos and don’ts during Ghost Month, there are reasons why one would exercise caution. During this month, the spirits come to the land of the living, and with them, they carry the yin energy, which is a passive, receptive, and dark principle. It contrasts with the yang energy, which is associated with high activity and movement.

Because the spirits would be among us, he advises avoiding disrespecting and disrupting spirits. “Spirits have ears,” says Chua. He also advises avoiding loud parties or unnecessary noises to avoid the spirits’ yin energy. Because of this spiritual nature, he also mentions putting off any major medical procedures, as the yin energy could cause an imbalance that delays healing.

Lastly, starting a business is not advisable because the yin energy is not a “money-making” energy. According to him, signing new contracts and starting a new job this month could also be difficult or slow things down. Overall, the advice is to avoid any emotional instability that could cause mishaps. “We are trying to be as careful as possible. Let’s try to be more alert and aware, always stay positive,” he says.

What practices can we do?

Instead of turning to new things, we are encouraged to honor those who have passed. According to Chua, offering a simple prayer could go a long way. “You can do whatever prayers that you can,” he says. “They cannot hear your language, but they can only hear what your heart speaks. It’s about the intention of your energy.”

Offerings are also encouraged, whether it’s food or Chinese paper offerings. Chinese paper offerings, also known as joss paper, spirit money, or hell bank notes, perform a specific function. “The belief is that when we burn it, they receive it on the other side. That’s why you offer as much as possible or based on your budget.”