Releasing and Planting
2026 Solstice Ceremony
with Lama Rod Owens
Online
Wednesday, December 17th, 2026 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm ET
Join Lama Rod and community for a sacred solstice ceremony to call in our intentions in preparation for the coming of winter and the approaching new year!
When tuning into our bodies and to the earth, we connect with nature’s patterns and how change is embedded in every moment of our life and practice. The medicine of the season of autumn is harvesting what we’ve cultivated throughout the year, while letting go of what no longer serves us and honoring the grief that comes with transitions.
As we approach the winter solstice, the longest and darkest night of the year, we can practice being with the season by embracing stillness and planting seeds for the future. The rhythm of nature holds space for these seeds of intention to be dormant and still in the wintertime. Through ritual, we too can practice slowness and stillness as a way to come back into ourselves and rest for what is to come.
Join Lama Rod to intentionally work with the energies of this seasonal transition to celebrate the fruits of our labor while also leaning into the spirit of release. This online ceremony will include ritual and practices that support letting go and planting seeds for ourselves and for our collective.
Can't make it to the gathering?
The Ceremony Includes:
- Live Ritual & Dialogue with Lama Rod
- Recording of the session
- Release, stillness, renewal, and connection
- Alignment with oneself through seasonal and collective shifts, transitions, and change
Registration Options
(select the offering below that best matches your ability to pay)
All Members of Lama Rod's Learning & Practice Community receive a 10% discount!
Join here to access the discount code.
Sponsor the 2026 Solstice Fire Ceremony
Can't make it to the solstice gathering? You are welcome to participate in our collective solstice tending by sponsoring Lama Rod's 2025 Solstice Fire Ceremony.
Along with a financial donation, you are invited to submit a prayer request that Lama Rod will read as makes offerings during the fire ritual. (Closes on December 16th at 11:59pm ET)
FAQs:
When is the ceremony?
Wednesday, December 17th, 2026 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm ET
How do I prepare for the ceremony?
There will be a few things to gather to prepare for the ceremony, which you will be notified about ahead of the event.
What if I can't attend the live ceremony?
A recording will be provided after the live ceremony for all participants.
How long will the recording be available once I register?
The recording be available indefinitely.
Is there a refund policy?
Refunds are available prior to December 10th, 2026, less a 20% admin fee. Beginning December 10th, we are not able to issue refunds.
Is there financial assistance available?
Payment plans are available through each registration option. Additionally, through the support of those who give at the Pay it Forward level, we have a limited amount of scholarships available. Email [email protected] if you are in need of financial assistance. If you are able to contribute to our ability to offer scholarships, your generosity by choosing the Pay it Forward supports our ability to offer more financial support.
What does the registration fee support?
Registration fees support Lama Rod and his team for the extensive labor, seen and unseen, and spiritual devotion that allows his work to remain accessible and sustainable. These resources help cover ongoing operational costs, such as the online platforms and services that are used to offer digital programs, team compensation, and the legal and accounting requirements of the United States, as well as physical spaces, materials, and nourishment for events when applicable.
As Lama Rod writes in The New Saints, he seeks to make the tradition of the Buddha relevant to our experiences in the present moment. This means inviting offerings and exchanges that honor the material needs of his energetic presence and livelihood — not in a conditional nor transactional way, but reflecting a tradition of reciprocity and universal balance similar to how you might leave food upon an altar for an ancestor. Giving and receiving are practices that embody the ethic of care that grounds Lama Rod’s work.
Therefore, your registration fees are one of the ways that Lama Rod is sustained so that he can continue his free and by-donation offerings such as Free Radicals, Medicine Buddha, and partnerships with organizations and schools to support their efforts. These offerings reflect our team’s commitment that no one be excluded from the teachings based upon their financial means. Those who register at the Pay-It-Forward price further increase accessibility by making financial assistance possible for those who need scholarships. Barter offerings and work exchanges are also welcome in some instances. Lama Rod believes that we can be well resourced while practicing an anti-capitalist ethic and is deeply grateful to be in a reciprocal relationship with you.
Health, Wellness, Safety, and Spirituality Disclaimer
This offering, like anything made available by Lama Rod is subject to our Health, Wellness, Safety, and Spirituality Disclaimer, which can be reviewed here.
Having trouble with your registration?
Email [email protected] and we're happy to help.
About the Teacher
Lama Rod Owens is a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. An international influencer with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School. Author of The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors and Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger, and co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation, his teachings center on freedom, self-expression, and radical self-care.
A leading voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers, Lama Rod activates the intersections of his identity to create a platform that’s very natural, engaging, and inclusive. Applauded for his mastery in balancing weighty topics with a sense of lightness, the Queen has been featured by various national and international news outlets.
Highly sought after for talks, retreats, and workshops, his mission is showing you how to heal and free yourself.
