By Gianna Mañiego
AT a recent get-together with select friends and members of media, veteran feng shui expert and practitioner Marites Allen presented a taste of her comprehensive reading of 2020, the Year of the Metal Rat.
Her findings, which are broken down per sign in a series of horoscope books launched that same day, October 9 at the Novotel Manila Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City, include the year’s outlook in terms of feng shui.
The event also saw the launch of the 2020 Marites Allen Feng Shui Almanac and Planner, the 2020 Feng Shui App, and the Frigga e-commerce web site.
According to Allen, the Year of the Earth Pig completes the previous feng shui cycle, which means all 12 signs in the Chinese zodiac—Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig—had undergone the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire and Earth) whose presence are deemed necessary to balance Nature.
This designates the Year of the Metal Rat the start of a new feng shui period.
The Year of the Metal Rat starts from January 25, 2020, and lasts until February 11, 2021. It promises to be a fruitful and prosperous year.
Allen said the last time the Year of the Metal Rat occurred was 60 years ago.
“If you are turning 60 years old next year, then you will complete the cycle of the elements and animal signs. The last time the Year of the Metal Rat occurred was in 1960.”
The years of the Rat are: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 and 2032.
STRONG AND LUCKY YEAR
THE Year of the Metal Rat is seen as a strong, prosperous, and lucky year, and is a great year for starting projects or improving ongoing ones.
Allen picks those born under the signs of the Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig or Boar as the lucky ones in 2020, while those born in the years of the Rat, Rabbit and Horse will not be so fortunate.
“If you are born in the Day or Year of the Horse, then you are in conflict with the Year of the Rat. Another warning that I’d like to make, because the pillar of 2020 is an Ox, is that those of you born in the Day or Year of the Sheep will be challenged.”
In terms of the Destiny Chart, which determines the direction of the Flying Stars or where the year’s lucky and unlucky sectors at home or in the office lie, Allen says to pay attention to the Southeast corner for windfalls of good fortune, the Northeast sector for victory, the Northwest corner for financial wealth, the West corner for prosperity, and the Southwest sector for romance and travel opportunities. Savvy feng shui believers would do well to place various enhancers in these sectors to strengthen them. On the other hand, those who want to quell the ill winds of the year and minimize or control the damage they cause would be well advised to put cures in the unlucky sectors, namely, the East (misfortune), the South (illness), the Center (robbery or loss) and the North (arguments).
These are just the broad strokes in the Year of the Metal Rat. Those interested in a more detailed analysis are welcome to join others on November 23, again at Novotel. The whole-day event will tackle
the year’s good luck enhancers, bad luck triggers, and feng shui must-haves to ensure a smooth sailing Year of the Metal Rat.
Tickets to the 15th Marites Allen Philippine Feng Shui Convention on November 24 the ballrooms of Novotel Manila Araneta City are sold at Eventbrite (www.eventbrite.com/e/). More information is available at 0920-9509390, 818-8858, 736-0512, 470-7661 or maritesallenevents@gmail.com.