The Lawyer Who Became a Shaman
By Natalie Gal | Culture | March 19, 2025
Cover Illustration: Haily Noa, Julie Attallah / 2024
Reporter Natalie Gal discusses with Hailey Noa her profound connection with the Soul that led her to shift career paths from efficient but puzzled attorney to fulfilled shaman.
In a softly lit yoga studio in Amsterdam, the scent of sandalwood and incense lingers in the air. Outside, the rain taps against the windows, as Celtic folk music plays through the speakers. The space, usually buzzing with movement, feels strangely serene – empty except for two cups of warm tea and a conversation waiting to unfold.
At the center of it all is Hailey Noa, a Soul Purpose Expert who has dedicated her life to guiding others through Soul Shamanism and Cacao Ceremonies. After moving to the city, I began attending yoga classes and accidentally encountered Hailey’s Cacao Ceremonies at Bluebirds, a yoga studio on the West Side. I soon got curious about the ancient ritual and the growing interest in plant medicine. The more I listened, the more I wanted to understand – what led her to this path? How did a former lawyer trade courtrooms for ceremonies, and legal contracts for sacred rituals?
We met before her Friday class to discuss her spiritual journey, the transformative power of ceremonies, her transition from corporate life to shamanism, the monetization of spiritual work and the public’s perception of modern-day shamans.
From a young age, Hailey Noa was drawn to something beyond our physical world, she was captivated by the concept of the soul. Spirituality fascinated her, yet as she recounted, becoming part of the Church ultimately discouraged her from exploring beyond its boundaries.
“It happened when I started going to church at 13 or 14,” she told me. “A new church opened near my house, and my mother wanted to attend. I had grown up believing in God but never actively practiced. I was looking for something bigger to guide me, especially since home life wasn’t ideal.”
Seeking answers, she joined a Bible study group and began experimenting with a practice she had read about – asking subconscious questions before sleep and receiving answers in dreams. When it worked for her, she excitedly shared it with the group. Their response, however, was anything but encouraging.
“They told me, ‘You must stop that, or you’ll go to hell.’ Deep down, I doubted them, but at that age, being told such a thing scared me. So I stopped. I even avoided books about spirituality, thinking it was forbidden. It wasn’t that I lost interest – I was just influenced by Christian teachings.”
Over time, her curiosity about the unseen world didn’t fade, but her trust in institutionalized religion began to crack. She resonated later with other religions, but without converting just simply learning and taking what aligns with her.
Hailey Noa’s Journey from Lawyer to Shaman
After feeling discouraged from experimenting with concepts of the soul and spirituality, she chose a secure, clear and comforting path: the legal world.
“I studied in Amsterdam and worked in law for four years. Before that, I was an active student – internships, extra programs and even studying in Berkeley, which was amazing. I specialized in employment law, working on court cases for both employers and employees.”
No matter how successful her studies and career seemed, she told me that she felt an unexplainable emptiness – a deeply lingering sense of something missing, something not being just “quite right.”
“I struggled early on. I even started a pre-master in musicology while doing my law degree because I wasn’t sure. Law was a safe choice, and I enjoyed it, but something was missing. I also considered psychology, but law had better job prospects, so I chose it.
Over time, I started doubting. I finished law school but burned out quickly. I kept finding myself in toxic work environments, which triggered past traumas. I frankly have a unique ability to find difficult bosses. Eventually, I couldn’t get out of bed. Therapy helped me realize that law and my personality weren’t a good match. The legal world will not change, and I will always be a sensitive soul.”
And what a drastic change she has made – transitioning from a lawyer to a shaman! However, the process was slow and gradual. She first trained as a group fitness and yoga instructor, then started blogging about conscious living, spirituality and sustainability. Eventually, she shifted her focus from blogging to working directly with people.
Plant Medicine Ceremonies: Ayahuasca and Cacao
Ceremonies can be deeply transformative, offering guidance, insight and even healing the attending individual. But as Hailey and I discussed, they also come with risks. A poorly led ceremony can leave participants feeling lost, vulnerable, or even unsettled.
“I have noticed your posts about your first experience trying ayahuasca. What was that like, especially as a professional?”
“Ayahuasca is a plant medicine from South America,” she explained. “It’s made from a mix of leaves and vines and has psychedelic properties. It induces deep, introspective experiences that can be incredibly transformative. I never thought it was for me, especially because it involves purging, but while traveling in Guatemala, I felt ‘called’ to it. The timing aligned perfectly, so I signed up for a ceremony.”
What followed, however, was not what she had expected.
“The ceremony itself wasn’t ideal. There was little preparation, and guidance before, especially regarding the diet. And the space, the setting didn’t feel as sacred as I had imagined. The shaman began quickly with a little introduction. After my first cup, I started seeing faint visuals but nothing overwhelming, so I took a second cup. That’s when the experience intensified. I felt glued to my mattress, unable to move, as the facilitators sang Icaros, sacred medicine songs that guide the journey.”
As time passed, she became increasingly aware that something was off.
“At some point, I realized I was deep in the experience, the music suddenly stopped. When I lifted my hand to check the time, it was only midnight – three hours before the ceremony was supposed to end. Suddenly, the space fell silent, and the journey halted. I was still completely immersed in the medicine, unable to move. No one checked on me. When I could finally shift my body, I checked the time – it was exactly 3 a.m. when the ceremony was officially over. It felt abrupt and incomplete. There was no integration afterward – just a quick, ‘How was it?’ before people left.”
While the ayahuasca did bring her insights, the lack of support and structure made the experience unsettling.
“Now I know that setting and proper guidance are crucial for plant medicine experiences,” she said.
Her story underscores an important reality – ceremonies, no matter how powerful, need to be handled with care. Without proper preparation and integration, they can leave participants feeling disconnected rather than enlightened.
While ayahuasca may be the more well-known plant medicine, Hailey Noa’s focus for the past few years has been on cacao. Be not mistaken, this isn’t the kind of cacao you find in the Museumplein Christmas market – this is a powerful ceremonial tool. Unlike ayahuasca, it is not psychedelic, as its effects are softer and less intense.
For Hailey, discovering cacao felt like finding a missing puzzle piece – a tool that aligned with her lifelong search for a connection with her soul.
“Cacao is known to be a heart opener,” she explained. “It works on the cardiovascular system, opening up blood vessels, increasing circulation and gently raising the heart rate. But beyond the physical effects, cacao is also believed to be a portal to the soul.”
“For me, that part – the soul – has fascinated me since I was a young girl. Cacao helps quiet the mind, allowing us to disengage from the distractions of daily life. And when the mind is less active, it becomes easier to hear the voice of the soul.”
This is why Hailey sees cacao as more than just a ritual drink – it is a tool to learn about ourselves, heal and find peace by calming our always buzzing minds.
“Our inner wisdom is always there to guide us, but in everyday life, it’s easy to lose that connection. There are so many distractions – the expectations we place on ourselves, the ones others place on us and the ones we think others have of us. Cacao helps strip that away, making space for us to truly listen to ourselves.”
Underdiscussed Realities: The Monetization and Perception of Spiritual Work
In a world where spirituality is often seen as separate from commerce, I couldn’t help but wonder – how does Hailey view the monetization of her services? Her offerings range widely in price: on Fridays, she leads shorter cacao and yoga nidra (deep relaxation via guided meditation) sessions at Bluebirds, accessible via ClassPass for example. But for those seeking longer, personalized ceremonies, prices can go up to €450.
I asked her about the reasoning behind this, and she explained that pricing reflects not just the ceremony itself, but the time, energy and preparation that go into creating a meaningful, personalized experience.
“For a private experience, I need many hours to prepare – the cacao, the space and I always create personalized guided meditations for each individual. So the price also reflects the time I dedicate to crafting the experience.”
Public classes, on the other hand, operate under a different system.
“With studio classes, I get paid by the studio, so it’s a different kind of deal. It allows me to practice my skills, and it also gives people a way to experience my teachings in a more accessible way. In reality, the studio makes more from my classes than I do, but I still love offering them because it means that people with different incomes can participate.”
For many readers, the words “Shamanism” and “Cacao Ceremonies” might spark curiosity or even skepticism. Is this some kind of mystical trick? Is this real spiritual practice, or just pulling a rabbit out of a hat?
I was curious to know – how Hailey Noa navigates people’s perceptions of her work.
“Going to birthday parties and having a cousin ask, ‘So, what do you do?’ – it’s like, oh my god,” she laughed. “It’s not that I’m ashamed, but people just don’t get it.”
“When you tell people you’re a lawyer, they nod – okay, they understand. Maybe they have questions, but they don’t doubt what you do. But when I say I facilitate cacao ceremonies, people don’t even know what that means. I had someone in my class the other day ask, ‘Do you also have a day job?’ Like this isn’t something real.”
Despite the skepticism, Hailey sees her work as part of a broader shift in career possibilities – one where unconventional paths become just as valid as traditional ones.
“It’s about taking the road less traveled. But in doing so, I also get to show people that work can exist in different ways. We should have more jobs that are normalized and created so more people can find something that aligns with them – just as I did.”
The Future of Spirituality and Hailey’s Next Steps
I asked Hailey about the future of her field. Having worked in yoga, fitness and spirituality for over a decade, she has already witnessed significant shifts. The demand for these services is rising as society remains in a constant state of burnout. Even those who thrive in hustle culture and corporate life need to indulge in something spiritual to nourish the soul exhausted from the draining nonstop rush.
“I do feel that it’s going to take up a bigger space,” she explained. “When I started in yoga, it was just about movement – there wasn’t much depth beyond the physical practice. But now we see ceremonies, sound healing and classes that focus on deeper spiritual teachings.”
“The desire for people to connect with their spirituality is increasing, but we no longer have institutions like churches where that traditionally happened. If you don’t fit into a religious structure, where do you go? Now, people seek that connection in ceremonies or yoga studios. I see that continuing to expand – maybe one day, we’ll even have more spiritual churches or new kinds of sacred spaces.”
Beyond the evolution of the field itself, Hailey has no plans to slow down. There are still business ventures and creative projects she wants to explore.
“A book is definitely something I hope to write one day. I’ve known that since I was a little girl researching the soul – I always felt I would write a book when I got older. Hopefully, that will happen soon.”
Recently, she made a return to podcasting, relaunching with a fresh concept and direction. Her show, The Soul Shaman Podcast, delves into themes of clarity, guidance and self-connection, drawing from her own experiences and spiritual journey. Through it, she hopes to offer insights, tools and reflections for those seeking to align with their “true soul purpose.”
Furthermore, recently she has launched retreat programs, and organized days and weekends filled with yoga, meditation and ceremonies in the serene countryside outside of Amsterdam.
She envisions her work moving toward guiding, advising and teaching on a larger scale, expanding beyond her in-person ceremonies.
“I’d love to make my teachings more accessible, to share cacao and spiritual techniques in a way that allows more people to connect with themselves and find their own answers. Right now, I love doing it offline, but I’d like to grow it – maybe even take it to other countries.”
The pot of tea was now empty, the last drops gone as our conversation reached its close. Slowly, people began filtering into the studio, slipping into their aesthetic yoga gear, ready for Hailey’s class.
We hugged before I quietly slipped out, leaving the calm sanctuary behind and stepping once again into the bustling streets of Amsterdam. As I walked, I felt inspired and motivated, enjoying how the rain had passed, and the sun now glowed against the wet pavement.
If you’d like to learn more about Hailey Noa (which would come as no surprise), you can visit her website or social media, where she regularly updates her audience on upcoming classes, ceremonies, and events.
“For me, that part – the soul – has fascinated me since I was a young girl. Cacao helps quiet the mind, allowing us to disengage from the distractions of daily life. And when the mind is less active, it becomes easier to hear the voice of the soul.” – Hailey Noah
Natalie Gal is a university student in Amsterdam. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Amsterdammer.
