Harbin garden photo with green folliage in the foreground and pink cherry blossoms on a tree in the background. In the center is the garden gazebo. Harbin Hot Springs A Spiritual Retreat logo.

March 20, 2025

Heart Consciousness Church

Planting seeds for the future

Sowing wildflower seeds over winter helped prepare the earth of the one-acre test plot at Harbin's new EcoFarm. Tending to the land and nurturing seedlings is inspiring. We're strengthening connections with each other, with the land, and with the community around us. Planting a garden requires faith in the process and in each other, trusting that, with care and dedication, the future will respond with a tree, or rows of colorful vegetables.


Each day we cast seeds of hope and love through our words and actions. And, like scattering tiny seeds onto the vast garden soil, small acts of kindness sometimes seem to disappear and go unnoticed. But like a tiny seed, your smile, an encouraging word, listening ear, or thoughtful gesture may take root and grow into something beautiful.

Harbin EcoFarm Update

The EcoFarm team is thrilled to announce the completion of seven conservation plans through a grant received by CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming & Innovation. One exciting aspect is the partnership we’ve accomplished for a joint Wildlife Corridor with a neighboring farm, which will allow wildlife to roam from mountains to watershed.

Farm Parties connect the farmland with our community. Won’t you please join us?


March 27 – PARTY: Connecting Land and Community ~ Prayers & Planting Oaks


April 17 – PARTY: Connecting Land and Community ~ Transplanting tinies & spring start give-away


Click "update profile" at the bottom of this email to opt in to receive additional email updates and details about Harbin EcoFarm including Farm Parties.



Donations are very much appreciated!

We are gearing up for windbreaks and buffer zones! While our process is to accept general donations, donors will be able to suggest which tree or item they would like to fund.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THIS WONDERFUL PROJECT!

Support Harbin EcoFarm

Learn more about the CDFA's Conservation Agriculture Planning Grants Program and the development of six conservation plans on our website: Harbin's EcoFarm.

Fern Dressing Room & Steam Sauna is Open!

Fern Dressing Room and Steam sauna opened the last week of February with a "ribbon cutting" ceremony led by Managing Director and Harbin Minister, Lia Findley Jennings. A small group of guests and staff gathered joyfully to celebrate the long awaited milestone.

It was no small feat when our team sat down with engineers long ago, to plan how to rebuild a complicated assortment of historic and beloved buildings in such a remote and rugged canyon after such a devastating fire. Architectural plans were drawn. The seeds were planted!


Now, ten years later, one more step in this immense project is complete. Fern is open!!! And we are so excited for you to see it!


Visit our website gallery for more photos!

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Steam Sauna

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Harbin Hot Springs employees gathered to enjoy the Steam Sauna prior to opening to the public. It was a lovely chance to spend time together, setting aside the hard work of running a retreat center. We even took the opportunity to take photos of the interior for our media before opening. (Cameras and electronics are never allowed in the pool area!)


Our gratitude to everyone who helped make Fern Building the beautiful work of art it is - and we especially thank YOU, our beloved guests, for your patience!

It's time for self-care and fresh air!

Our spirit-oriented, rustic retreat center offers a variety of rejuvenating activities, including yoga sessions, cozy accommodations, and outdoor camping beneath the stars. Take in the beauty of our hiking trails, relax by the creek, indulge with massages or eat at our food service area. Join us for exciting events, dances, and inspiring workshops designed to uplift your spirit.

It's a great time to visit Harbin before the busy summer season arrives. We offer:

Day Visits, Camping and a variety of Lodging Accommodations

Reservations are required.

Book Your Visit

Interior of Grove Cottage. An attractive room with high ceilings, a bed, two side antique tables with lamps and a small couch at the foot of the bed.

2025 Workshops

Have you heard the news? Workshops are back!

Talented facilitators and teachers come to Harbin from far and wide to share their wisdom and expertise in a range of topics. (You may even recognize long time familiar faces among this list!) Registration is processed through the facilitators. Register first, then book your lodging or camping accommodations.

Visit the Workshops Calendar for information and registration details.

Close up photo of hands of perhaps four people joining together to hold a metal singing bowl. In the background is blue water.

April 4-6: “Standing Waves” 4 Elements Asanas - Earth, Aerial, Aqua & Hot Yoga with Heather Christensen


April 18-21: Divine Voice Spring Retreat with Kiranjot Kaur and Joss Jaffe


April 25-27: Earth Wisdom - embody your freedom: Authenticity, Intimacy and Freedom Women’s Retreat with Satya Gita Aune and Alaya Babineau


May 3-4: Planting Seeds of Awakening, Berkeley Wellness Center with Dr. Jay Gunther and Gabriel Remliel


May 27-29: Introduction to Healing Dance®, with Clairez


June 1-6: Healing Dance® 1, with Clairez


June 16-20: Healing Dance® Underwater Basics, with Inika Spence-Whaley


June 22-25: Healing Dance® Relating & Mirroring, with Inika Spence-Whaley


June 26-27: Souffle de l’eau / Water Breath Dance A 2 day Watsu® Course with Georges Amir Künzler


June 28-29: Women's Midsummer Retreat with seed + sage


July 25-27: Vibrant Chakras with Sabina: 7 Pathways to Harmony Retreat with Sabina Ruddell

Workshops Calendar
A therapist gives a watsu treatment in the pool.

Spa Services

Schedule a spa appointment on land... or in water! Visit Spa Services to learn about the different modalities available then give us a call and schedule a session. We'll answer any questions you may have.

(707) 987-2477, ext. 2000

Harbin Events

Eventsare free with your paid admission to Harbin. Dates and times are subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Please check event posters upon arrival or call ahead to confirm

Ostara/Spring Equinox Ritual with Sherry Huggi-MaYou are invited to celebrate the spring equinox holiday of Ostara on Mar 23 at 2pm in the Harbin garden. Join us!


Ostara Potluck with the HCC Ministers Mar 23 @ 3:30pm

Join us for a special HCC Ministers Gathering and Potluck as we welcome Spring! Each month our Spiritual Gathering is filled by a sharing from one of our Harbin Ministers, discussion on new HCC business and a Visioning Session guided by R. Lane with a closing Affirmative Prayer. Afterwards one of our ministers will be available for individual prayer or to answer any questions. Non-HCC ministers and guests are very welcome to attend!

Here's a small selection of Events coming up. View the Events Calendar for much more, including yoga schedules and Harbin movie night listings.

Friday Night Oneness Meditation Heart Consciousness Sound Bath,

Apr 4 & 19, 6:30pm (every 1st & 3rd Fri.)

Heart Consciousness Church Affirmation Prayer Circle, Saturdays at 1pm

Standing Waves: Aqua Yoga with Heather, Sundays at 9am

Tai Chi with Bob Klein, Wednesdays at 10:30am

Zhineng Qigong with Ellen Asherah, Wednesdays at 1:30pm

Harbin Dance, Wednesdays at 8pm

Contact Improv Grounded Dance with Heather, Mar 23, 11am

Bible Study in the Garden, Mar 25, 5pm (every other Tue)

Partner Thai Massage with Robert Bard, Mar 30, 11am

New Moon Prayer Bundle Ritual with HATAATII, Mar 27, 1pm

Christian Meditation Experience with Caroline, Mar 27, 5pm (every other Thur)

All About Kirtan Lead by Mahavir, Mar 28, 1:30pm

Iyengar Yoga with Lauren Chandrika Leary, Apr 3, 11:15am (every other Thur)

Transforming Stress into Joy w/ Jivan, Apr 3, 1pm (every other Thur)

Events Calendar
Photo of the swimming lap pool with green folliage in the foreground and background. Two lounge deck chairs sit in the background.
Quan Yin statue near the cold plunge has a vibrant pink rose in her hand.

There are many ways to demonstrate Heart Consciousness in daily life. In fact, it's easy to see how every interaction is an opportunity to spread seeds of love, joy, hope and empathy, simply by acting with kindness.


All of us, together, have an opportunity to inspire, encourage and support others to join us on the path of Heart Consciousness. And a visit to Harbin can do just that, by renewing and fulfilling our heart's desire to live in Oneness. We invite you to practice with us!


We hope to see you soon!

~ Harbin Hot Springs

Help Rebuild Harbin

So much beautiful progress, yet so much work to be done.

P.S. We send this Guest Newsletter full of info, about once every six weeks. We don't want to overwhelm your inbox. But we have a lot to share! If you'd like to receive additional news and photos on topics that interest you, scroll down and click "update profile" at the very bottom of this email and "opt in" to receive additional occasional emails on:

  • Workshops - Be the first to know when a new Workshop is added to the calendar and receive additional tips and insights from facilitators and teachers!
  • EcoFarm - Up to date info and announcements of farm parties, progress updates and photos.
  • Fundraising & Rebuild - Our donors make all the difference. Receive insights from our rebuild team, hear from supporters, and learn about upcoming fundraising events and activities.


Thank you for staying connected with us!

Read our Statement of Consciousness.

Harbin Hot Springs - Heart Consciousness Church

A SPIRITUAL RETREAT CENTER

P.O. Box 782, Middletown, CA 95461

www.harbin.org