Meet Katy Lopes

We were lucky to catch up with Katy Lopes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katy, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

My purpose unfolded slowly, over many years, shaped by both my spiritual path and the journey me and my husband, Lucas, took together.

I actually began my spiritual work long before coming to the United States. Back in Brazil, in 2009, I took my very first Reiki course while I was in the middle of trying to understand who I was as a spirit — exploring different practices, studying energy, and searching for tools to help me learn and grow. That inner work continued quietly alongside everything else I did in life.

When Lucas and I came to the U.S. to study abroad, I pursued my MFA in Producing for TV and Film, while he continued his studies and soon received sponsorship to stay working in his field. On the outside, everything looked like the path we had dreamed of — education, career, opportunity. But inside, my spiritual journey kept deepening. I was understanding my childhood, my clairvoyance, my sensitivities, and my desire to help people heal. I practiced Reiki, worked with crystals, and slowly built Halu as a side passion — a sacred space I didn’t yet realize would become my life’s work.

The turning point came when I felt the call of Mt. Shasta. Standing there, I felt something awaken — a remembering of the path I had started in Brazil so many years before. Two years later, when I became pregnant, everything shifted even more. After giving birth, my heart changed. My priorities changed. I couldn’t continue in the film industry because my soul wanted something different, something deeper, something that aligned with the spiritual growth I had been nurturing for over a decade.

I had to choose a path — and I chose Halu.

What began as a simple 10×10 booth at local markets grew into two pop-up stores in Westfield Mall, and eventually into the wellness center we now lead in Northern California. Each step happened naturally, guided by intuition and a deep desire to create a community where people could reconnect with themselves.

Halu is not just a business. It is the continuation of the spiritual path I started in 2009 — a path of healing, awareness, and service. It is my purpose, shaped by every lesson, every challenge, and every moment of growth along the way.

I didn’t find my purpose overnight — I grew into it. And I’m still growing.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a heart-led spiritual entrepreneur, Reiki practitioner, and the founder of Halu — a wellness space rooted in intuition, community, animals, and Mother Nature. My journey began in Brazil in 2009 when I took my first Reiki training and started exploring my clairvoyance and spiritual gifts. Healing has guided me ever since.

After moving to the U.S. with my husband, Lucas, to study abroad, I completed my MFA in Producing for TV and Film while continuing my spiritual growth. Halu began as a small 10×10 market booth, then expanded into two pop-up shops in Westfield Mall, and has now evolved into our wellness center in Northern California.

Halu is a sanctuary where people reconnect with themselves and the natural world. Our mission is deeply tied to accessibility, which led us to create the Halu Karma Fund — a donation-supported program offering accessible chair yoga and meditation for people with disabilities, community Reiki for children and animals, and subsidized healing sessions. Every accessible class is supported by our community with the message:
“This class is made possible by the Halu Karma Fund.”

We’re also expanding our outreach with monthly Yoga in the Park, assisted living visits offering meditation, sound bath, and Reiki, and Little Yogis field events in children’s cancer hospitals to bring movement, crystals, and mindfulness to kids undergoing treatment.

As we grow, we’re building a team aligned with Halu’s energy — teachers and healers who lead with heart, integrity, and a shared mission of community care and earth-centered healing.

Next year, I’ll also be releasing my first children’s book, Lyra and the Crystal Heart, created to teach kids about nature, animals, and crystals while helping them navigate big feelings with confidence through mindful tools.

Halu is becoming a living, breathing community — a space where spirituality, nature, motherhood, accessibility, and healing all come together. At its core, our purpose is simple:

To help people reconnect with themselves, the earth, and each other — with love.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, what were the three qualities that most impacted your journey, and what advice would you give to others starting out?

1. Intuition

Following my intuition — from my early Reiki days in Brazil to the moment I felt called to Mt. Shasta — guided every major decision.
Advice: Make space to listen to yourself. Intuition grows stronger the more you trust it.

2. Resilience

My path involved moving countries, shifting careers, becoming a mother, and reinventing myself many times. Resilience helped me stay grounded through every transition.
Advice: Don’t fear starting over. Reinvention is part of growth.

3. Heart-Led Entrepreneurship

Building Halu from a tiny booth into a wellness center happened because I led with purpose, service, and community.
Advice: Build something that reflects your values. Let your heart guide your brand, and surround yourself with people whose energy aligns with your mission.

At the end of the day, the strongest path is the one that feels true to who you are becoming.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

If I had just ten years left, I would live them with full presence, purpose, and love. I would pour myself into my family — my daughter, my husband, our animals — creating memories in nature, traveling, laughing, and being fully there for every moment. I’d spend more time in the mountains, especially Mt. Shasta, and in Brazil with the people who shaped me.
I would deepen Halu’s mission even more. I’d focus on expanding our community work — helping people heal, offering accessible wellness, visiting hospitals and assisted living homes, supporting children, families, and animals. I’d spend those years teaching everything I know about energy, intuition, crystals, Reiki, and self-awareness so others could carry it forward.
I would document our journey, our healing work, our community stories — maybe through film, writing, or creating something meaningful for my daughter to hold one day.
Mostly, I would prioritize connection. I’d choose experiences over things, presence over perfection, and joy over pressure. I would live simply, love deeply, help freely, and make sure that the last decade of my life left a ripple of healing, kindness, and community long after I’m gone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://halucrystalshop.com/
• Instagram: @halucrystalshop
• Facebook: Halu Crystal Shop

Image Credits

Lucas Miranda