Hungry Ghosts and Sapphires
September Inspiration
I’m thrilled to share this month’s creative “threads” with you. By diving into different cultural and artistic traditions, I uncover fresh insights that I hope will add depth to my storytelling.
I hope you find some inspiration along the way!
Sacred Sapphires
If you were born in September, sapphire is your special birthstone. This stunning blue gem has been a favorite throughout history, tied to royalty, nobility, and spirituality. It’s more than just beautiful — sapphire is also believed to bring protection, healing, and wisdom to those lucky enough to wear it. Some of the best quality stones are mined in Myanmar.
Supayalat, the last queen of Burma, would have worn them proudly.
Hungry Ghosts
Pchum Ben – Festival of the Dead
Pchum Ben, or the Festival of the Dead, is a significant Cambodian Buddhist holiday held over 15 days in September or October. During this period, people honor ancestors and appease “hungry ghosts”—spirits suffering from hunger due to past misdeeds—by offering food, prayers, and alms at pagodas. The festival culminates with a grand ceremony on the 15th day, reflecting Cambodia’s deep cultural and spiritual values. This year, the festival begins on October 1st.
| In my first novel, The Foreigner’s Confession, a richly descriptive scene unfolds within a temple during Pchum Ben, where Emily is struck by a haunting vision. Amid the ritual offerings and solemn prayers, she is jolted by the unsettling appearance of what she believes to be her deceased husband’s ghost. This moment intertwines the festival’s spiritual depth with Emily’s personal turmoil, creating a poignant and eerie atmosphere that underscores both the cultural significance of the tradition and the emotional weight of her past.
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