Email from Harbin Hot Springs

February 1, 2025

Harbin Hot Springs

Celebrating the first 50 years!

Dear friends,

February 7th, 2025 is Heart Consciousness Church's 50th Anniversary. We have so much to be grateful for, starting with this weekend's Imbolc Ceremony and the upcoming launch of the 2025 Ministers’ Ordination Training. We're excited to announce a "fresh off the press" 50th Anniversary "Quarterly" Magazine. We have updates to share about the Harbin EcoFarm, and the ongoing construction of the restaurant and hotel buildings. We are also looking forward to the completion of Fern Dressing Room and Steam Sauna, which, if the weather cooperates, will be ready to open by the end of the month! Sit back and enjoy, there is a lot to share!

Heart Consciousness Church and Harbin Hot Springs ~ How it all began...

In 1972, the then-neglected and dilapidated property of Harbin Hot Springs was purchased by Robert Hartley, whom many know today as Ishvara. He and the community of people who were drawn here began repairing and improving the springs, pools, and buildings. In February of 1975, the ownership of Harbin Hot Springs was reorganized, and Ishvara sold it to Heart Consciousness Church which continues to own and run Harbin Hot Springs today as a spiritual retreat center. Read More.

Oneness in Living

Our founder's vision was simple, to demonstrate and teach the experience and practice of Heart Consciousness, to know ourselves more fundamentally, and to more fully experience, embody, and share the Oneness that we all are. Here's an excerpt from Ishvara's 2002 book "Oneness In Living" which we will be offering later this year as an e-book and a second edition reprint -

The first law of this Truth is that we are all One, a Oneness that includes all reality; beyond that Oneness, there is nothing greater or higher. The second law is that the highest goal for humans is to be completely identified with that Oneness. Love, of ourselves, of each other, and of the natural environment, is the everyday experience closest to complete identity with Oneness. "Heart" is the inner place where Oneness and Love are experienced

~ My love to you All

Ishvara

Heart Consciousness Church is the practical, living embodiment of Oneness. It’s a New Age perspective that weaves together the common threads from the Human Potential Movement, the Natural Holistic Movement, and Universal Spirituality.

At Harbin we refer to all of this, together, as Heart Consciousness.

Original Walnut Hotel

Domes - the Watsu® Center

Celebrating 50 Years with "The Harbin Quarterly" Magazine special edition.

In honor of the 50th Anniversary, HCC Minister and long-time Harbin Quarterly editor, Ann Prehn created a beautiful 60 page magazine with articles selected from the beloved "Quarterlies" which capture moments in time while sharing bits of history, inspirational characters and a peek inside Harbin life from 1975 through 2025.

We have a limited supply of printed magazines now available in the Reception office for $30. Not planning to visit soon? Download the free e-edition at harbin.org/heart-consciousness/hcc-about/

Growing our Future

Along with the CDFA grant, your support helps us grow the EcoFarm.

• Our vision of the future includes sustainable farming...

• In 2023 we applied for a grant which funds the hiring of expert conservationists to develop plans like Grazing, Soil Health, Pollination, Fish & Wildlife Conservation, and Carbon Farming...

• Last year we received the Grant!

• Now we’re Fundraising and Farmraising!

Please help support the Harbin EcoFarm!

Make A Donation

How Does Your Donation Impact the Harbin EcoFarm?

Your support helps pay for infrastructure necessities like trees and bushes for windbreaks, a 100 foot hoop greenhouse, road paving and irrigation.

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

Fern Dressing Room and Steam Sauna

We are on track to open Fern Dressing Room by the end of February.

Thank you for your patience as we faced weather delays and supply issues last year, setting us back on more than one occasion. Rain in the forecast this week may, once again, stall the finish work and final inspection. But we anticipate opening by the end of the month!

We hope when you see the craftsmanship and beautifully planned design and facilities you will agree it was worth the wait.

Rebuilding Update:

The Harbin Restaurant

Currently, work on the restaurant includes exterior painting on portions of the building, installing the outdoor dining decks, and constructing the beautifully designed, well lit, large, covered entryway. Progress is on track and looking good!

Walnut & Azalea Hotels

The return of lodging on Mainside seemed like a distant dream. But now, the dream is real! Since 2015, the former site sat empty, resting, waiting patiently. Now, the foundation construction is underway as the two structures are built off-site with an anticipated arrival in May. We will then spend some time installing the elevator and three stories of porches and deck.

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

Help Rebuild Harbin

Workshops Are Back!

Once a worldwide workshop destination, we've been working hard to bring small workshops back to Harbin Hot Springs. We're excited to share our first offerings below. Be sure to bookmark our new 2025 Workshops Calendar. We'll be adding more soon!

March 1 - 2

Dark Matter - Movement Lab "Get the Issues out of the Tissues" 5Rhythms and Move in Presence Modalities

with Heather Christensen

April 25 - April 27

Earth Wisdom - embody your freedom: Authenticity, Intimacy and Freedom Women’s Retreat

with Satya Gita Aune

and Alaya Babineau

May 27 - 29

Intro to Healing Dance®

Instructed by Clairez

June 1 - 6

Healing Dance® 1

Instructed by Clairez

June 16 - 20

Healing Dance®

Underwater Basics

Instructed by

Inika Spence-Whaley

June 22 - 25

Healing Dance®

Relating & Mirroring

Instructed by

Inika Spence-Whaley

June 26 - 27

Souﬄe de l’eau / Water Breath Dance

A 2 day Watsu® course with Georges Amir Künzler

Harbin Events

Events are free with your admission to Harbin with some exceptions for hosted events or workshops which are noted on the calendar. 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.

Events Calendar

Imbolc Celebration

February 1, 1:30-2:30pm in the Therapy Pool

At Imbolc we honor water. From the direction of the northeast, the time between death and rebirth, the midpoint between winter and spring at the time when water is falling from the sky and flowing through the land, we honor Brigid, the keeper of the well, and the hearth, the goddess and patron saint of Springs, the keeper of the home fire and the forge.

Winter Retreats and Sweet Treats!

Order a meal or drink at the Dancing Bear Cafe or Blue Room Coffee Cart on Valentine's Day and receive a complimentary Valentine's Day cookie!

Harbin Spa Services

We offer a wide variety of massage and bodywork modalities on land - and in water, as well as spiritual services, tarot readings and more. Treat yourself or surprise a friend with a gift card for a day visit and massage. (Guests must have lodging or day visit reservations to schedule a spa appointment.)

(707) 987-2477 ext. 2000

Tap Into Nature!

Unplug and recharge your own energy by tapping into nature! The worries of the world may still be there when you return, but your essence will be rejuvenated.

Book Your Visit

Our Year in Review:

Here are a few highlights from 2024 we're excited about:

- We received a grant of $50,500 towards planning the Harbin EcoFarm. We started working with the land and have exploratory plantings.

- We had a successful campaign raising $30,000 from donations, with $1,000 commemorative supporter plaques.

- We started the installation of the solar Tiltport that will help to power all of Mainside.

- We broke ground on the new Restaurant and Hotel.

- We updated our website. The last website was over 20 years old.

- We restored the Altar, the Labyrinth, and lighting in the Phoenix.

- We brought in 600 sheep to graze for fire prevention.

- We improved fire safety at the Domes and Grove Cottages.

- We hardened our properties to ensure good fire prevention and tree health.

- We have added new hiking trails.

- We invested in equipment to keep our roads safe and durable.

- We improved the entrances to the Ceremonial Fire Circle.

- We planned the 2025 Ministers’ Ordination Training.

- We focused on the importance of the Heart Consciousness Church as the foundation of Harbin Hot Springs.

- We expanded a vibrant and thriving Events program with many spiritual, church-offered and entertainment events.

- We relaunched our Workshops program beginning with offerings from five longtime Harbin Residents.

- EV charging is now available at the bridge of the Village Path.

- We participated in the Middletown Area Merchants Association and Career Day at the High School. We had a float in the Middletown Days Parade. We donated a Christmas tree for the giveaway to families in need. We had a booth at "Christmas in Middletown", and we organized a toy drive.

- Readers’ Choice of Lake & Mendocino County awarded us GOLD in Best Spa, GOLD in Best Massage, and BRONZE in Best local lodging!

and..... - We found homes for 2 abandoned cats!

Sending Love to our Southern California friends and family.

It's difficult to find words about the devastating fires in Southern California. Many of you, our dear guests, visit Harbin from beautiful Southern California. And many of us here have roots, family and friends there. We send our love and deepest condolences for the losses of life, and for the lost memories and homes. May our story offer a glimmer of hope in this time. We love you and we care!

In closing, we want to thank you, our dear guests, friends, family and new members alike, for being a part of our history. We invite you to enter the next 50+ years of creating, practicing and living in Oneness with us.

We hope to see you soon!

~ Harbin Hot Springs

Read our Statement of Consciousness.

Harbin Hot Springs - Heart Consciousness Church

A SPIRITUAL RETREAT CENTER

P.O. Box 782, Middletown, CA 95461