The month of August arrives surrounded by warnings: "do not marry, do not move, do not start anything." The reputation of "month of misfortune" spans generations, but almost no one knows where it comes from, and even fewer people know what Umbanda actually teaches about the period.
The truth is more beautiful than superstition. In Umbanda, August is the month of Exu, the guardian of the paths, and of Obaluaê, the orixá (orisha) of healing. In other words: it is not a month of curse, it is a month of protection and health. The bad reputation has a known origin, and the period has gained its own baths and protections to cross it well.
Why did August gain a reputation as the "month of misfortune"
Before anything else, it is necessary to say clearly: the bad reputation of August did not originate in Umbanda or in any Afro-Brazilian religion. It is a popular, old, and external superstition, and it has well documented origins.
The saying "whoever marries in August has misfortune" comes from Portugal. It was in August that the caravels set sail for the sea, and men embarked without a return date. Many brides waited for years, or were widowed without ever having lived the marriage. The union was postponed to avoid attracting separation.
There is also the Roman root: the month bears the name of Emperor Augustus and was a period of military campaigns, of war. And, throughout history, August accumulated striking tragedies: the start of the First World War, the bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and, in Brazil, the suicide of Getúlio Vargas on August 24, 1954. Add to this the nickname "month of the mad dog" linked to the heat of the bitches and the old anti-rabies vaccination campaigns, and the reputation is set.
Note that none of this is destiny or a curse. It is cultural construction: difficult facts that joined in the collective memory and became superstition. Recognizing this is the first step to crossing August without fear.
In Umbanda, August is the month of Exu and Obaluaê
While common sense sees bad luck, Umbanda sees ritual work and care. August is dedicated to two forces that, precisely, protect and heal.
The first lord of the month is Exu, and here lies the greatest confusion of all. Exu is not the demon (this is a distortion inherited from mistaken Christian translations). In the tradition, Exu is the guardian of the paths and of the crossroads, the messenger between worlds, the one who opens and closes the doors. Without him, no ritual work begins. His greeting is “Laroyê Exu!”, his day is Monday, and his colors are red and black. In a month known for being heavy, having the guardian of movement at the forefront is exactly what is requested.
The second is Obaluaê, also called Omulu, “the orixá of Healing, of diseases, of plagues,” on the FUCESP page. Lord of the earth, of health, and of diseases, he is known as the “doctor of the poor.” His greeting is “Atotô!”, which asks for silence and reverence before the great king of the earth. In popular Catholicism, Obaluaê is syncretized with Saint Roch, celebrated on August 16, one of the orixá's dates. As Umbanda treats the orixá, with color, candle, and those who descend in the gira, it is in Omolu in Umbanda. A period ruled by the orixá of health is, by definition, an invitation to care, not to ruin.
Is August the month of bad luck? What Umbanda really teaches
No. August is not a month of bad luck, and treating it that way reinforces a prejudice that has always weighed on Afro-Brazilian religions. The Umbandista reading is different: August is a month of resguardo, and resguardo is not punishment, it is care.
Think about the word. To protect is to shield, to keep with care, to double the attention. It is what is done after a birth, after a surgery, after a ritual work: a time of recolhimento so that the energy settles. August invites this. With Exu opening paths and Obaluaê caring for health, the month asks that you slow down, avoid unnecessary conflicts, and look inward.
August does not ask you to be afraid. It asks you to be careful. The difference between the two is the difference between living shrunk and living awake.
In practice, the resguardo of August is more about behavior than magical prohibition. Avoiding impulsive decisions, not fueling fights, taking care of the body and mind, keeping the faith firm. None of this "keeps bad luck away" because bad luck does not exist as a force, what exists is our energy, and it responds to the care we have for it.
August resguardo: baths, smoke cleansing (defumação), and protection
Here comes the practical part. The rituals below are gestures of spiritual hygiene and connection, not formulas for guaranteed results. Do them with faith, with calm, and with respect for the guidance of your house.
Cleansing bath
The most indicated to remove accumulated weight after a difficult day or a conflict. The classic base gathers rue, guinea hen weed and coarse salt. Boil the water, turn off the heat, add the herbs and the salt, let it infuse covered and strain. Take your normal hygiene bath and then pour the preparation from the neck down, never on the head. Do the spiritual cleansing at most once a week as excessive spiritual cleansing scrapes away energy instead of renewing it. See the complete step by step in the coarse salt ritual bath guide.
Gentlest cleansing ritual bath
For the days when you just want to renew, without a strong spiritual cleansing, use guinea hen weed and rosemary with a pinch of coarse salt. It is a maintenance bath, good for starting the week light. The guinea hen weed ritual bath alone also fulfills this role well.
Smoke cleansing of the house
Smoke cleansing (defumação) clears the environment and calms those who live in it. Protection herbs like dumb cane, rosemary and myrrh help to set the peace of the home. Pass the smoke from the door inward, room by room, with the intention of renewing the air. The smoke cleansing for spiritual cleansing guide brings the combinations and the way to do it.
Firmeza to Exu and tribute to Obaluaê
On Monday, Exu's day, light a red and black candle and ask, in your own words, for opening of paths and protection for the month. It is a gesture of connection with the guardian, not a bargain. It is worth understanding first how to use ritual candles and how to make an offering with foundation. For Obaluaê, the popcorn (doburu) is the traditional tribute, along with healing prayers and a time of contact with the earth and with nature.
An important reminder: the ritual bath and smoke cleansing (defumação) take care of energy, but they do not replace a doctor. If something in the body requires attention, seek physical health as well: Obaluaê is, above all, the orixá who teaches how to care for life.
Frequently asked questions
Why is August considered the month of misfortune?
The fame comes from historical and popular origins, not religious ones: the Portuguese saying "who marries in August has misfortune," linked to navigations, and the accumulation of striking tragedies in the month, such as the suicide of Getúlio Vargas and the bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is a cultural construction, not a destiny.
Why is August the month of Exu in Umbanda?
Because August is ruled by the guardian of the paths, the one who opens and closes the doors and protects the movement of life. In a period of heavy fame, having Exu at the front means having protection. The month also belongs to Obaluaê, the orixá of healing, celebrated on August 16.
Is August really a month of bad luck?
No. Bad luck is not a spiritual force. In Umbanda, August is a month of precaution and care, ruled by Exu and by Obaluaê. What changes the month is the attention you give to your energy, your choices, and your health, not a supposed curse.
Which ritual bath to take in the month of August?
A cleansing bath (banho de descarrego) with rue (arruda), guinea hen weed (guiné), and coarse salt helps remove weight after conflicts, done at most once a week and from the neck down. For maintenance, a milder ritual bath of guinea hen weed (guiné) and rosemary (alecrim) renews energy without scraping the field.
Who is the orixá of the month of August?
In Umbanda, the month is associated with Exu, guardian of the paths, and mainly with Obaluaê (Omulu), the orixá of healing and health, whose strongest day in the period is August 16, syncretized with Saint Roch.
Where to buy herbs, candles, and protection items
At Joia Mística Laroyê, you find everything to cross the month of August with protection and axé:
- Herbs for ritual bath: rue, guinea hen weed and rosemary, fresh or dry, separate or in spiritual cleansing (descarrego) combos
- Ritualized coarse salt: prepared with the intention of cleansing
- Red and black candles: for the firmeza of Exu on Monday
- Incense burners and protection herbs: dumb cane, rosemary and myrrh to cleanse the house
- Statues and bead necklaces of Exu and Obaluaê: to set your altar and your devotion
Visit our physical store in Extrema-MG and we ship to all of Brazil. Talk to us via WhatsApp and Joice will guide you on the right protection for your moment.
References
- Wikipedia: Exu (orixá)
- Wikipedia: Obaluaiê
- FUCESP: Obaluaê page
