Ghost Month is nearly here: A few things to avoid, according to a Feng Shui expert

Ghost Month is upon us, but Feng Shui master Johnson Chua says it's not to be feared. "It's a festive occasion," he said in a video.

"We're honoring the dead, the souls, and our loved ones. So sana ma-treat natin 'to as a much more, as a better month, not a bad month."

Also known as a Ghost Month Festival, the occasion takes place every seventh month of the Chinese Lunar calendar with no fixed dates, meaning the dates change on a yearly basis. Just like Holy Week for Catholics — notice there is no fixed date for Easter Sunday?

The same is true for Ghost Month which this year takes place from August 13 to September 10. The actual festival day falls on August 27.

"This is not a bad month, it's a celebration," he explained, adding a simple prayer or offering is accepted.

In a follow up video, Chua shared a few things to avoid during Ghost Month, including staying out late at night.

"There are lots of spirits in the environment [at night] and mas magiging mabigat yung aura natin," he said, explaining evenings are when "mas malakas ang spirits and hindi natin ma-distinguish if positive or negative spirit."

He also said to avoid swimming, especially at night. "May kasabihan na ghosts are attracted to water because water is also yin. Iwas sa water and swimming accidents," he said.

If you really need to swim, do it in the morning, he added.

Because our energies during ghost month are not at its optimum, Chua said it's advisable to avoid "signing of contract, major renovation, or starting a business. We don't want to start something during ghost month."

Leaning on the popular English adage that first impressions last, he says it's almost the same in Feng Shui. "First energy also lasts. During Ghost Month, mababa yung energy natin so that's why iniiwasan natin siya (to start something new)."

According to Chua, ghosts and spirits are attracted to food and entertainment, which is why marriage, engagements, and loud parties are best avoided during Ghost Month. "They are attracted to food and entertainment. Mamaya, makiki-join sila tapos wala naman tayong inihanda for them, mamaya magtampo sila, may tendency, pwede tayo ma-curse. Kaya iniiwasan natin siya."

He advised not to "pick up anything from outside like coins or food," explaining offerings in the form of food and coins are often left outside.

Spirits "might think it's for them and if you pick it up, may tendency sumunod sila sa atin," he said. Should you make the mistake of picking up food or money, it's best to donate them, he said.

Per Chua, other things to avoid include talking about spirits, because "sometimes words become a sword. Itong curse energy, sometimes, those words can cause emotional energy and sometimes cause negativity" as well as emotional instability.

"Pag negative ang emotion, may tendency bumababaa ang aura natin. Mas mabilis ma-possess at mapaglaruan pag bagsak ang emotions natin," he said, adding negative emotions can sometimes bring down our intelligence and critical thinking, causing us to make wrong decisions.

— LA, GMA News