Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Harders.
Hi Chris, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
This chapter starts about eight years ago when I had a spontaneous spiritual awakening. It was an exciting time — I was learning there was more to life than I once thought. And yet it was also challenging and lonely. Challenging because I had sensitivities to energy and experiences that most people didn’t have or understand (including myself at first), and lonely because I was mostly on my own in this spiritual journey. I had coaches and healers I could consult, and friends I’d met at weekend workshops or online, but I didn’t have a core group of people I could relate to about what I was going through.
I imagined the possibility of sharing my learnings with others while they shared theirs with me. I couldn’t find this in the churches I visited, and most sound baths, yoga classes, and spiritual experiences I attended didn’t have community and connection at the forefront — I’d go, listen to a facilitator, do the thing, and then everyone went their separate ways. So I felt lonely even amongst others. And the authentic relating wasn’t for me. It felt inauthentic in its design. The only other spaces with some promise were metaphysical fairs, but these were vendor-centric rather than places to gather and connect.
So when I moved back to Austin in June 2025 and had a space to host people, I decided to try building the thing I had always wanted. I didn’t know if anyone would be interested in an event called “Mindful Mondays: Meditation, Energy Healing, and Psychic Fun!” — but I knew I wanted to give it a shot.
It started with one person. Then a few more. Things started picking up when I made the events weekly. I knew I was onto something when I was going to skip a Monday after Thanksgiving because most people were out of town, and a regular messaged hoping I’d still hold it. Sure enough, even without much notice, there were four of us there meditating, playing with a psi-wheel, and trying to perceive the aura.
It became exactly what I had always wanted — a place where people can feel comfortable having conversations about “out there” topics without judgment, with people who get it, or at least are open to different perspectives.
The flow of the evening begins with people settling in, visiting, and pulling a tarot card to see what message it might hold. Then we move into introductions so people begin connecting more personally. I lead a guided group grounding meditation, and then I or another person in the consciousness space shares an exercise for everyone to do together. Afterward there’s time for casual socializing. The format was inspired by moments I noticed connection naturally happening in workshops I’d attended — structured interaction that allows spontaneous, inspired conversations to arise.
The way things unfold is based on direct feedback from the people who attend. This is why I call it the Co-Creation Community. It’s the people who make these events what they are.
While I tend to follow the energetic flow of what people need to decide what happens next, the broader vision is for the spiritual conversations that happen within these events to become more normal in everyday life. For those who feel alone on their journey to more easily find community and feel validated in their experience.
I have ideas that go beyond Mindful Mondays — there are plenty of people whose schedules don’t allow for a Monday. Those will come in due time.
There’s something about being seen, and about what happens when we come together to share our ideas, that allows us all to grow more quickly than we could on our own.
It’s exciting and humbling to be in this role of facilitation. It’s my dream come true. Even more surreal has been meeting other spiritual teachers and leaders who I initially learned from and am now seen at the level of peer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been smoother than I expected. Synchronicities tend to pop up when I need them most. Usually when a challenge arises, it’s a sign that a different path might be better suited for the needs of the community.
Some have been good challenges, like outgrowing my space in East Austin. Serendipity led us to Singularity Thought House at Casa de Luz, where Mindful Mondays are being held through the summer.
And with the growth, the importance of keeping the same connect-feel matters. So far that’s worked, and I’ve also had people stepping up to add support and ideas that will keep the event feeling intimate even with bigger numbers. It’s about making sure the container is set so people find others they can relate with.
When something comes up that I don’t like or doesn’t seem to work, I pause and wait about 24 hours. Usually the issue clarifies what needs to shift to make things better.
Funny enough, the strangest challenge has been putting into words what the events are all about. People will leave and say, “That was great! I don’t even know how to describe it to my friends.”
At this point, I’m better at expressing what I consider these events to be: part social, part workshop, part meditation — for heart-centered spiritual people wanting growth in community.
For people who aren’t into the woo stuff, I tell them I host group meditations. Anything beyond that and their eyes glaze over. And that’s fine — they aren’t who these events are for.
Financing has fortunately not been an issue either. Early on, I held these events completely free. I noticed some bitterness in myself and meditated on why. I realized there was an energetic imbalance — I was giving too much without reciprocation, not even covering costs. I further realized this wasn’t benefiting anyone. Making the event donation-based meant people were contributing, which was energetically balancing, allowed for purchasing things to enhance the experience, and there are a few other energetic shifts that happen in a positive way when people are contributing.
I’m careful to not come across as a guru or spiritual expert. I’ve learned things that are useful for me, and I share them at events — but it’s really about people figuring out what is relevant, true, and useful for them. There are many things others swear by in the spiritual community that I don’t find helpful at all. I wouldn’t want anyone to interpret my experience as anything other than one person sharing what worked for him. I’ve had plenty of coaches who led with their ego — and I see plenty of that in the spiritual space too — so I do my best to stay grounded, especially as people begin looking to me for support.
The only other obstacle was Hal #1 going missing after an event. I have a 5-foot tall inflatable alien at the entrance to the space so people can find us easily. Early on, people kept messaging asking where we were — it was a new building with no signage. I didn’t have much to put out front, so I put out a giant inflatable alien. People loved it. Even after I got a sandwich board sign, they preferred the alien. Aliens aren’t really a big part of our events, but most people drawn to something like this tend to be open to the idea — and it adds a fun quirkiness. One night I forgot to bring the alien inside. When I remembered at 4am, it had vanished. My friend jokes there was an alien abduction. Fortunately, a second alien Hal #2 has since taken on the important work of greeting attendees that the original Hal #1 was doing.
We’ve been impressed with Chris Harders Heals and the Co-Creation Community, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At the moment, the thing I’m best known for is facilitating events for the Co-Creation Community. These include Mindful Mondays and weekend events, which are becoming more common in the near future.
Regarding these events specifically, I have received a lot of positive feedback on my ability to lead meditation and teach concisely. These events are different than anything I’ve come across in that they are recurring, financially accessible, and oriented toward community connection, while also having a focal point that gives each event structure.
These events are by far what I’m most proud of. I feel such gratitude and happiness seeing people come together each week — something I so badly wanted for myself early on, and something that clearly has a similar impact on others.
Anyone is welcome at these events who has an open heart and mind. You don’t need a 7th-degree Reiki black belt or anything like that. It’s for the normal person who has a spiritual interest and wants to be around other like-minded people. Many people have complimented the diversity in age, race, gender, and sexual orientation of those who show up. It’s a welcoming place.
In my personal practice, I am an intuitive coach and healer. I mostly offer shorter sessions these days because a lot of energy moves in 30 minutes — people get the answers they need, and anything more would overwhelm the system in a single session.
Generally, I’ll tap into a person’s aura to begin the session. This gives me energetic wisdom they may not be able to easily access for themselves, and I blend this with my background in neurolinguistic programming, coaching, and energy work.
The healing I offer often includes clearing the energetic blocks holding people back, tuning into possible life directions and which path will best suit them, and identifying what to watch out for. I can also help with relationships — I was a dating coach for a number of years — including clearing blocks in energetic communication to make relationships more harmonious, and clearing karma and updating soul contracts when there are challenges in a relationship.
I used to offer, and will soon begin offering again, trainings related to intuitive development, energy tools for energetically sensitive people (such as Highly Sensitive People and empaths) to live more empowering lives, and Magnetize Your Match — a training specifically designed to help people quickly attract highly compatible partners using the laws of the universe.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a curious kid growing up. I loved to read and learn, and I was very good in school. I was fascinated by fantasy books, especially those written by Matt Christopher and a series about young Merlin and how he acquired his gifts
I remember sitting in my room at night wondering if I could be like one of the X-Men, and through sheer thought, trying to move something with my mind. Of course, I was never able to do anything other than learn how to make goosebumps appear on my arm whenever I wanted. In retrospect, I think what I was doing was learning to move energy through my body — it would be many years before I would actually understand that concept.
I was a sensitive boy, and this made life challenging, because at the time being considered sensitive wasn’t cool. So I did my best to fit in and suppress or ignore that side of myself.
I was always playful and loved stand-up comedy and humor. I loved to act.
I loved my dogs, Goldilocks and Penny. I loved camping, swimming, and most things outdoors — though I was not so great at sports.
I always stood out a bit. I was never interested in fashion, the latest trends, or pop culture, which was sometimes alienating.
Elvis was my idol, and I learned to play guitar to be like him. I was drawn to his expressive energy on stage.
Pricing:
- Mindful Mondays – Donation-based ($20 appreciated but share what’s right for you)
- 30 Min Intuitive Session – $75 currently
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chrishardersheals.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/chrishardersheals
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chrishardersheals
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrishardersheals
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@chrishardersheals/
