On November 22, Tatler Hong Kong and The Upper House hosted the final edition of House Stories, a monthly panel series at the hotel’s Green Room
When? November 22, 2023
Where? The Green Room at The Upper House
Who? Thierry Chow, Christina Ko and Deborah Lynna
Here’s what you missed:
The panel put a spotlight on the increased popularity of the likes of Tarot cards, birth chart readings, crystals and other spiritual wellness trends that have become part of mainstream culture. To demystify astrology’s appeal, Tatler spoke to three leaders in the field in Hong Kong: Deborah Lynna, an astrologer who combines practices based on Indian and western-originated philosophies; Christina Ko, founder of Good Peoples, which operates a wellness space and is also a content studio; and Tatler cover star and feng shui designer Thierry Chow.
Moderated by Aaina Bhargava, Tatler’s arts and culture editor, the conversation dispelled common misconceptions surrounding astrology while shedding light on its potential applications. Each speaker shared their personal journeys and how they found themselves working in the field of astrology. Chow, whose father Chow Hon-ming is a famed feng shui master, said she had once sworn she would never get into this industry—“but in my 20s, I hit a low point, and I began to reflect on my life and it led me to this”, she said. Ko is a self-confessed “astrology junkie”, while Lynna recalled buying a spellbook and “casting spells in the ocean” as a little girl.
Lynna, who practises western astrology using birth chart analysis and astrological calendar planning, and has certifications with the US astrology school Kepler College and The School of Traditional Astrology, finds that people typically turn to astrology during moments of transition. “The questions they ask are typically about health, relationships, career or the home. But these are only vehicles for the real question people are coming to [astrologers] for which is: ‘am I using my time correctly?’ This is where astrology can be helpful,” she said. Ko said that there are no rules to astrology, but that it’s about “consciously choosing what works for you”.
The panellists agreed that the beauty of astrology lies in its ability to offer individuals a framework for self-reflection—and understanding that aligns with their own beliefs and experiences. When it comes to astrology, there are various schools of thought, interpretations and techniques. It’s important for individuals to explore and find what resonates with them. “Astrology is a great tool for empathy. We all have different planets and different signs in our birthing charts—astrology can help people connect better with each other,” Ko added.
