Feng Shui expert Marites Allen on COVID-19 pandemic: 'We are not fortune tellers.'

One of the misconceptions about Feng Shui experts is that they can predict the future like what fortune tellers do.

So, when COVID-19 pandemic happened this year--the Year of the Rat, according to Chinese Zodiac Cycle--many called out popular Feng Shui experts for not giving a warning about it.

In an intimate interview with Feng Shui expert Marites Allen recently, she reacted to negative comments about not foreseeing the pandemic this 2020.

"The most hot topic is that did we see this pandemic happening? Of course not. The answer is no. If you're going to ask me, I'm just going to answer that, you know, we are not manghuhula. Feng Shui masters did not see this coming.

"You know, even if we see bad things happening, we don't really hope it would happen like this. I believe it could be a product of human intervention, a couple of man-made mistakes that this thing happened.

"If you ask me, nope, we didn't see it coming."

However, she remembered an instance when she advised a friend to stock up on food in January.

Marites said, "When I was doing Feng Shui at her house, I just told her like, 'yung mga maids niya, she can talk to them. I said, 'Hey, I feel that something is happening, please stock up on food, etc.

"I think two or three weeks after that, the Taal Volcano erupted. Basically, that's how far I have seen it coming."

So what does she think will happen in 2021?

"COVID will be here to stay. Unless, of course, every person on earth will be vaccinated and will be willing to be vaccinated," she answered.

Prepare your gratitude list

Marites noted that 2020 has been a very challenging year for a lot of people, but there are still a lot of things to be thankful for.

So, she advises people to let go of the heavy baggage they carried in 2020 and offer some gratitude before welcoming 2021.

"Before the year ends, the energy is shifting so much.

"As a way of sharing you, by December 21 when the winter solstice comes in or even before that, I'd like you to prepare your gratitude list.

"Because there's so many bad things that happened in 2020, so we have to burn it and let it go during the winter solstice.

According to Marites, the gratitude list must include health, family, and relationships, and how one still earns money under the new normal.

She said, "These are the things we neglected before because we are too busy with our career, right?"

The Feng Shui expert mentioned that she will teach how to do a "letting go ritual ceremony" on her Feng Shui webinar on Saturday, December 19.

As for 2021, which is the Year of the Metal Ox, Marites's advice is to "keep moving forward."

She added, "Don't let anything stop you from improving yourself."

"So, release, let go of the baggage behind us. There's always a brighter side of life.

"Enjoy meditations in a very, very formal way. You'll be surprised you're gonna be less angry."

Feng Shui remains reliable

According to Marites, who is currently based in London, many are still interested in Feng Shui despite the pandemic.

"I have to tell you this, [we] have, in fact, increased our operation. Would you believe, we now have 24-hour call center assistance," she told GMANetwork.com and other select media and bloggers.

"When I came to London, my frigga website has been operational. Like what I said, I never thought that I will be seeking help from a call center company to help us with the 24-hour demand and inquiries from people.

"So, I would say, yes, the perception has increased.

"Maganda ang feedback in terms of how the world or how the business has responded to it. I was surprised myself.

"The online is incredible, I cannot complain."

Aside from giving Feng Shui advice, Marites also sells charms based on Chinese zodiac signs via Frigga's website.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, December 19, Marites will host a webinar in preparation for the 2021 Year of the Metal Ox.

The Feng Shui expert has been doing Feng Shui convention for more than a decade, only this time it will be done virtually because of the pandemic.

"If you ask me if I had second thoughts of doing this, I did have. Like what I said, I don't know how the people would feel. But then, a lot of people were emailing me as well, talking to me why I wouldn't have it.

"This is going to be our 16th year, so sayang naman if we stop that. Yes, no amount of pandemic should stop anyone from doing what they love most," she concluded.

Meanwhile, here are some of the celebrities who were born in the Year of the Rat: