Aug. 8, 2008 may not be so lucky, unlike what you think

Aug. 8, 2008 may not be so lucky, unlike what you think By Rowena C. Burgos MANILA, Philippines - Contrary to what many believe, Aug. 8, 2008 is not an auspicious day to get married, open a business, sign a major contract, start a construction or move into a new house. The date is not favorable either for the opening of Beijing Olympics, says Joseph Chau, Mandarin Oriental Manila’s feng shui expert. “August 8, 2008 is the second day of the Ghost Festival which falls on the 8th day of the 7th lunar month, which is what the Chinese call the Ghost Month. Locally, the Chinese-Filipino refer to this month as the Hungry Ghost Month,” Chau says. “This is why the Chinese don’t usually engage in any big event within this month.” The Chinese seventh month, usually August, is the most ill-fated time of the year. It is called Ghost Month, and its climax is the Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. Buddhists, Taoists and believers of Chinese folk religion believe that during the Ghost Month, the spirits of the dead wander the earth. There’s superstition that the Ghost Month is the most inauspicious time, during which important decisions and activities such as travel, weddings, moving to a new house and even swimming are suspended. “The Beijing Olympics and establishments hold events and promotions on Aug. 8 because on the surface they think that 08-08-08 is a lucky number. This is an ordinary day in the calendar similar to July 7, 2007 and June 6, 2006,” Chau says. “But if Aug. 8, 2008 is not within the Ghost Month, it is really a lucky day. But since it falls in that month, one’s luck will somewhat have a ‘big discount.’” But, to know whether a date is auspicious or not, Chau adds, one has to consider a lot of factors like calculations and the Chinese calendar. On the other hand, Maritess Allen, feng shui expert and CEO of World of Feng Shui boutique, says the actual day of the Ghost Festival falls on Aug. 14 at exactly 12 a.m. “Contractors and builders, however, are advised to start renovations before Aug. 1 and end way after Aug. 30,” she says. “For the whole month of August, we need to be extra careful and avoid taking risks. For added protection, wear an amulet or display protective images.” Allen also cautions against medical procedures, swimming at night, going on late night-outs, starting construction of any kind or any business, too much travel, moving into a new house or buying one and getting married within August. Olympics In Chinese culture and tradition, Allen says, the number 8 is considered very lucky. “So it’s not surprising that the Olympics starts on 8/8/08.” The opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing will begin at 8:08:08 p.m. CST (12:08:08 UTC). In feng shui, we are now in the period of eight, which started February 2003 and will end February 2024. “The number 8, an infinity sign and a classic symbol of luck in Europe and Asia, is the luckiest among the nine numbers (1 to 9). So those who will make a special effort to tap into its potency will definitely attract extra good fortune, thus launching a worldwide event such as the Beijing Olympics was a good choice,” Allen says. “The Chinese used the Four Pillars of Destiny analysis to get the luck pattern for the day, 8/8/08, which is an extremely auspicious date.” (Chau’s Trend Eight Cycle, on the other hand, began from 2004 and will end in 2023.) If you look at the chart of the Four Pillars of Destiny, it has the presence of three yang metal elements, two earth elements and one water element, Allen explains. The presence of two earth elements makes the Day Master Pillar (a yang metal) stronger, thus, making 8/8/8 “the right day for the right season and very auspicious for sports events, athletes and marketing campaign.” In another formula called Xuan Kung Da Gua (auspicious date selection), Allen says Aug. 8, 2008 also has the combination of 10, which brings harmony and prosperity on this day. In China, some people have to pay a certain dough to have the number 8 in their phone numbers, addresses, car plates and so on. The number is significant for the Chinese because its pronunciation in Cantonese (“ba”) means making money and sound (“fa”) means prosperity. “Technically, the number 8 is especially lucky during the Trend Eight Cycle. And triple 8 is similar to the sound ‘fat-fat-fat,’ which means ‘prosperity-prosperity-prosperity,’” Chau says. “Of course, one should not only depend on luck but also perseverance and hard work. Lots of prayers will surely help,” Allen says.