A conversation with Kaye Dong

It was the clean-lined aesthetic and calming energy of its website’s visuals that drew our eye to The New Moon. We didn’t know it then, but its Hong Kong-based founder Kaye Dong had just put the finishing touches on its online shop, seeking to bring a space of respite and tranquility in the midst of a raging global pandemic.

While it offers a curated selection of insightful articles that seek to reconnect us to ourselves and to a grounded sense of spirituality, it is the open-heartedness of Kaye herself that shines through The New Moon and truly distinguishes it from all others.

Kaye Dong

Holistic health and wellness has become an increasingly important part of our lives, as more of us are appreciating the significance of nurturing every aspect of our being. Without a health-filled body and sense of self, materiality holds little purpose. Conscious of this, Kaye launched The New Moon, stocking an array of objects - such as crystals, sculptural incense holders, oracle cards and books - that are delivered to all continents, while offering experiences to the Hong Kong-based community that educate on wellness-related topics such as kinesiology and gut health. For its global audience, The New Moon provides insights on the lunar cycle and how the universe’s constellations impact our every day through regular IG live sessions and posts, reminding us of how we are all interconnected to nature and the cosmos.

Most significantly, The New Moon is fuelled by the same energy that fuels Kaye’s other projects, namely her interior design firm The Good Studio, and her child-focussed non-profit foundation, K for Kids - each one reflecting a differing facet of Kaye’s essence, while all underpinned by the same values supportive of a genuine, holistic, coherent and positively impactful life.

Pushed by the desire to uncover her life’s work and philosophy - rare yet incredibly inspiring - we recently caught up with Kaye and asked her ten questions drawn from the Proust Questionnaire - a questionnaire that originated from a parlour game popularised by French essayist Marcel Proust back in the 1900s, and which was designed to reveal the player’s true nature.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

My idea of happiness is when I know I have made someone happy. My happy hormones go wild when I do something for someone I love and see their faces light up with joy. This just gives me so much motivation and purpose in life. Sometimes these acts are more planned and intentional, but more often than not, they are spontaneous.

What is your current state of mind?

I am multi-passionate by nature which means I'm always coming up with new ideas and in constant state of change. This does not always make sense to others, but I have been learning to trust my intuition more and prioritise my own joy. Meditation has really helped me stay connected to this source of inner wisdom. So, even though there are lots of changes going on in my life right, I feel calm and content.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, who or what would she/he/it be and why?

I would like to come back as a spiritual guru and help people reconnect with the truth of who they are.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I think it would be the unrealistically high expectations I set upon myself. This can get me into trouble sometimes, as I unknowingly project these expectations on others. I am getting better at this though by giving myself permission to make mistakes and knowing that this is part of the learning process. I also remind myself that whilst achievement can be a good thing, that alone is not what defines me as a human being.

What is your greatest regret?

I cannot think of any regrets.

What is your most treasured possession?

Definitely all my memories with family and friends!

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Generosity. I admire a man who is generous with his time, his presence, his skills, his wisdom, and his willingness to help and give.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Gracefulness. I admire a woman who can carry herself with dignity and can stand tall with compassion and humility. There is a clear focus and purpose in her life, so her poise comes from true, authentic inner confidence.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Raising my children, which includes my 2 daughters and all 7 of my foster children.

I went into motherhood absolutely clueless and certainly had no idea what I was getting myself into when I signed up to be a foster caregiver. But, I look at my girls now and feel proud of the confident, generous, fun-loving and compassionate young women that they have become. And I look at all my foster children and feel grateful of the opportunity to have loved and cared for them when they needed it the most.

We did good.

What is your motto?

Make it simple, but significant.