Land, Ancestors, and the World Beyond: Practicing Spiritual Abolition

Join us for Land, Ancestors, and the World Beyond: Practicing Spiritual Abolition, a transformative spiritual retreat taking place on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the renowned Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. This immersive spiritual retreat event in Stockbridge brings together two visionary teachers—Buddhist minister and yoga instructor Lama Rod Owens and Qigong teacher Daisy Lee—to explore the intersection of ancestral wisdom, land justice, and liberation practices. Through movement, meditation, and intentional dialogue, this spiritual retreat event in Stockbridge creates sacred space to examine how our spiritual practices can become tools for freedom and healing.

This gathering is designed for practitioners seeking depth beyond conventional yoga and wellness spaces. Lama Rod Owens brings decades of experience as an authorized Lama in the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism, blending Buddhist teachings with activism and social justice frameworks. Daisy Lee contributes the grounding, vital energy of traditional Qigong practice, offering participants embodied pathways to inner peace and wholeness. Together, their teachings weave a spiritual retreat experience that honors both inner transformation and collective liberation.

The overall atmosphere is contemplative yet grounded—a space where spiritual practice becomes an act of resistance and healing. You'll leave this spiritual retreat in Stockbridge with new frameworks for understanding how land, ancestry, and spiritual practice intersect in the journey toward freedom.

What to Expect

Arrive early to settle into the serene Stockbridge landscape and orient yourself within Kripalu's peaceful grounds. The day unfolds with intentional pacing: you'll begin with centering practices, move through guided teachings and movement sessions with both Lama Rod Owens and Daisy Lee, and conclude with integration time for reflection and community connection. Expect a blend of seated meditation, flowing yoga asanas, Qigong energy cultivation, and facilitated dialogue—all designed to awaken your body's wisdom while expanding your understanding of spiritual practice as liberation work.

Throughout the day, you'll experience moments of silence and stillness alongside dynamic movement and shared inquiry. The sensory journey includes the gentle guidance of experienced teachers, the grounding feeling of your feet on earth, the rhythm of collective breathing, and the openness that emerges when practitioners gather with genuine intention. By day's end, you'll have integrated new practices, deepened your spiritual toolkit, and connected with others committed to healing and justice.

About the Artists

Lama Rod Owens is a Buddhist minister, author, activist, and authorized Lama in the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism, bringing a distinctive voice that bridges spiritual practice with social justice. His teachings integrate Buddhist philosophy with contemporary activism, offering practitioners ways to understand liberation as both personal and collective. Lama Rod's decades of experience and multiple published works make him a trusted guide for those seeking spirituality rooted in real-world transformation.

Daisy Lee is a dedicated Qigong teacher and practitioner who masterfully blends traditional Chinese medicine teachings with modern wellness insights. Her approach cultivates inner peace, vitality, and holistic wellbeing through gentle, accessible movement practices. Daisy's teaching style honors the ancient wisdom of Qigong while meeting contemporary practitioners exactly where they are.

Venue & Location

Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health sits in the heart of Stockbridge, Massachusetts—a picturesque town in the Berkshires known for natural beauty, cultural richness, and spiritual openness. The center itself is a 300-acre sanctuary featuring serene grounds, peaceful practice spaces, and comfortable accommodation options. Whether you're arriving from nearby communities or traveling from further away, the Stockbridge location offers easy regional access and the restorative energy of mountain air and forest surroundings.

The venue provides all necessary amenities, including parking, dining, and rest areas. The teaching spaces are thoughtfully designed to support deep practice and collective presence. Plan to arrive with time to explore the grounds and settle your nervous system before the spiritual retreat event begins.