Ghost Month

Chinese ghost month beckons. For this year, it's July 27 to August 24. Very early!

Another irregularity in world stock markets looms as Chinese investors shy away with their investments. So too with real estate, as they only opt to wait and see.

It is actually a month-long observance of the equivalent of Halloween's "Trick or Treat" - but of a different kind: Hungry Ghosts!

Hungry ghosts are not just lost souls in purgatory as Catholics believe. They are those who have not accepted their death (be it from an accident, a natural one, or through crime of passion or simply murder!) that they deliberately skirt moving on to the afterlife and choose to remain on earth like TNTs (illegal aliens or "Tago Nang Tago" Filipinos abroad).

And every seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar, they are given a month-long vacation break to roam the earth freely. Free to possess or spook human beings, or to share and even occupy human homes or offices! Even possess their body and soul, if need be!

This is the real caution when it comes to ghost month. You, or the person you may deal with in business or a romantic relation may be possessed by a hungry ghost!

So lie low. It's not a good time to answer a suitor or to propose. Not a good time to get married, either, or to buy a property or transfer office or house for it may be possessed by a hungry ghost. Or ghosts!

In simple terms, you will get shortchanged in any transaction. Instead of normal prices, you will be swindled for an arm and a leg or both legs! Much as it is in the food market lately with the skyrocketing prices of garlic or "bawang"!

This is the traditionally cautious observance of ghost month. In feng shui it has an added positive dimension, it is the best time for feng shui maintenance as you hit two birds in one stroke: avert hungry ghosts and manage transitions to the incoming energies of the next lunar year as it bleeps into the energy fields of the environment like a movie trailer (coming soon!).

Happy Ghost Month everyone! Just remember Casper, the friendly ghost!