ChoZen Center for Regenerative Living · A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Sebastian, Florida
Winter Solstice Ritual Weekend
The Longest Night. The Returning Light.
At the darkest point of the year, we gather to slow down, turn inward, release what we no longer need, and make space for the light returning.
Join us on the Land for a deeply intentional weekend of ceremony, reflection, nourishment, nature, community, and renewal.
A seasonal pause to reconnect with yourself, with one another, and with the natural world.
December 18–20, 2026
Registration is now open. This is an intimate gathering and space is limited.
The Gathering
A Weekend for Returning to Yourself
The Winter Solstice marks a threshold — the longest night of the year, and a natural invitation to slow down. A moment to look back on what the season has asked of you, to set down what you’re ready to leave behind, and to open toward what’s next.
At ChoZen, we gather on the Land to honor this seasonal transition through ceremony, nourishment, nature, community, and intentional stillness.
Throughout the weekend, David Gutierrez and Giselle World hold the ceremonial container together — the Temazcal, ritual, and fire work weaving into one unfolding experience of release and renewal.
Together, these experiences create space to move inward, reconnect with the body and the Land, and enter the returning light with greater clarity and intention.
December 18–20, 2026
The Experience
What the Weekend Holds
Slow Winter Mornings
Begin the day gently. Meditation, movement, quiet reflection, nourishing food, and time on the Land set a different pace for the weekend.
Fire & Light
Gather around the fire as daylight fades — a place for connection, reflection, story, prayer, and the simple experience of being together.
Temazcal
Facilitated by David Gutierrez, the Temazcal offers space for inward reflection, release, and renewal through heat, breath, prayer, and sacred song.
Ceremony & Ritual
Guided by Giselle World, ceremony and ritual weave through the weekend, marking transition, honoring connection, and welcoming the returning light.
Stillness
There is space to do less. Walk quietly. Sit beneath the trees. Listen to the Land. Rest. Reflect. Breathe.
Arrive. Slow down. Turn inward. Release. Renew. Return to the light.
The Weekend Journey
Friday Through Sunday
Arrive at ChoZen and begin the shift away from the pace of everyday life.
- Check-in and settle into your accommodations
- Welcome dinner
- Opening fire
- Ceremony and ritual with Giselle World
- Temazcal with David Gutierrez
- Integration and quiet reflection
The weekend begins by creating space to arrive — not simply at ChoZen, but within yourself.
A day devoted to slowing down, connecting, and moving inward.
- Morning meditation and movement
- Nourishing brunch
- Time to explore and experience the Land
- Rest and personal reflection
- Evening meal and community
- Solstice fire and ritual with Giselle World
As the longest night approaches, we gather around fire and cross the threshold together.
Begin gently, and let the light return with you.
- Gentle morning practice
- Silent nature walk
- Nourishing brunch
- Solstice ritual and reflection with Giselle World
- Personal integration
- Closing circle
- Checkout at 11:00 AM
- Departure at approximately 12:30 PM
Leave with space to carry the experience forward.
Programming
Held, With Intention
Temazcal with David Gutierrez
David Gutierrez facilitates the Temazcal, holding space for prayer, reflection, release, and renewal through heat, breath, and sacred song.
Winter Solstice Ceremonies & Rituals with Giselle World
Giselle World guides ceremony and ritual throughout the weekend, honoring the seasonal threshold through music, prayer, and sacred sound, and creating space for reflection, connection, and intention.
Solstice Fire
Gather around the fire on the longest night — a time for reflection, community, gratitude, and welcoming the returning light.
Meditation & Movement
Gentle practices to help you slow down, become present, and reconnect with the body.
Silent Nature Walk
A quiet invitation to experience the Land without distraction. Walk. Listen. Notice. Breathe.
Integration & Closing Circle
A final opportunity to reflect on the weekend, share what’s present, and carry it into the season ahead.
Want to go deeper into the program or the facilitators?
Schedule a CallMeet the Facilitators
Guided With Reverence
David Gutierrez
Temazcal Facilitator
David Gutierrez is a multidisciplinary artist, ceremonial guide, vocalist, Sun Dancer, and guardian of the Temazcal.
His work is rooted in Indigenous traditions of prayer, ceremony, song, and connection to the natural world.
David has walked the Red Road for more than two decades, bringing a deep devotion to ceremony and ancestral traditions. As a water pourer and guardian of the Temazcal, he holds space through breath, heat, prayer, and sacred song.
For Winter Solstice, David facilitates the Temazcal — one thread in the weekend's ceremonial arc, woven together with Giselle's ceremony and ritual work — offering participants an opportunity to turn inward, release what no longer serves them, and create space for renewal.
Giselle World
Ceremony & Ritual Facilitator
Giselle World guides participants through ceremony, ritual, sound, and intentional connection.
Her work brings together music, prayer, ancestral reverence, and a deep relationship with the natural world — creating space for people to arrive fully in the present moment.
For Winter Solstice, Giselle guides ceremony and ritual throughout the weekend — one thread in the ceremonial arc she weaves together with David's Temazcal work — helping create a meaningful container for reflection, transition, release, and the return of light.
Culinary
Nourishment for the Season
Winter invites us to slow down and nourish ourselves deeply.
Throughout the weekend, our culinary experience centers on seasonal, nourishing food designed to support connection, restoration, and community.
- Welcome dinner
- Nourishing brunches
- Winter Solstice Celebration
- Seasonal beverages and refreshments
Meals are part of the experience — not simply something served between programming. They are opportunities to gather, connect, share stories, and enjoy the abundance of the season.
Accommodations
Stay on the Land
Your accommodation becomes part of the experience.
Wake with the Land. Walk beneath the trees. Return to quiet. Let the pace of the weekend continue into your own space.
Every rate includes your accommodations, all meals, and the full weekend of programming.
Premium Room
$1,444
Our most private accommodation option, featuring a private ensuite bathroom.
Bringing a partner? Choose Double Occupancy at checkout (+$555).
Book the Premium RoomPrivate Room
$1,111
A private sleeping space with access to shared bathroom facilities.
Bringing a partner? Choose Double Occupancy at checkout (+$555).
Book the Private RoomShared Room
$777
Shared accommodations designed for guests who want to experience the weekend together.
Book the Shared RoomPlus One
$555
Add a second guest to a Premium or Private Room. Select Double Occupancy when you book.
Children
- Under 3
- Free
- Ages 4–8
- 50% off
- Ages 9–17
- 25% off
Optional Experiences
- Self-guided Kayaking
- $55
- Safari River Cruise
- $55
- Massage
- $186
Coming with a partner, your family, or a group?
Our team will arrange children's rates, group stays, and optional experiences, and put your whole stay together.
Plan Your Family or Group StayNot sure which room is right for you?
Speak with the Team
Meet the Land
Forty Acres, Tended
ChoZen is more than a retreat venue. It is a living landscape — a bioregional hub and 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to regeneration.
Our forty acres are being tended as a place for renewal — for the Land, for biodiversity, for local economies, and for human well-being.
Surrounded by protected natural areas and connected to a much larger ecosystem, ChoZen offers an opportunity to step away from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with something older, slower, and more essential.
During Winter Solstice, the Land itself becomes part of the experience.
- The trees.
- The water.
- The soil.
- The fire.
- The night sky.
- The returning light.
Who This Is For
This Weekend Is for Those Ready to Go Within.
- For those who feel the need to pause.
- For those navigating a transition.
- For those ready to release something that no longer serves them.
- For those seeking deeper connection with themselves, others, and the natural world.
- For those who want to experience ceremony without needing to have everything figured out.
- For those who simply know they need a different kind of weekend.
You do not need to arrive with a specific intention.
You simply need to arrive willing to be present.
What’s Included
Your Winter Solstice Ritual Weekend Includes
- Your selected accommodation
- Welcome dinner
- Nourishing brunches
- Winter Solstice feast
- Temazcal experience with David Gutierrez
- Winter Solstice ceremonies and rituals with Giselle World
- Solstice Fire
- Meditation and movement
- Silent nature walk
- Integration and closing circle
- Time to explore and experience the ChoZen Land
- Materials associated with weekend programming
Two Ways to Join Us
Registration Is Open
This gathering is intentionally kept small, and accommodations are limited. Choose the path that fits you.
Book Directly
Know you're ready? Choose your accommodation and reserve your place in a few minutes. Every rate includes your room, all meals, and the full weekend of programming.
Talk With Our Team
Planning for yourself, your family, or a group? Want to know more about the weekend, the ceremonies, or the mission behind ChoZen? Schedule a call and we'll help you:
- Plan an individual, family, or group stay
- Choose the right accommodations and add-ons
- Walk through the weekend, the program, and what to expect
- Learn about ChoZen's work as a 501(c)(3) regenerating forty acres in Sebastian, Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
A Few Things You May Be Wondering
Comfortable clothing appropriate for outdoor activities and changing temperatures, a water bottle, walking shoes, personal toiletries, and anything you may need to feel comfortable during a weekend on the Land. Additional preparation guidance will be provided before the gathering.
The weekend is intentionally paced. There will be structured programming as well as meaningful periods of free time for rest, reflection, nature, and personal integration.
The Temazcal is a traditional ceremonial sweat-lodge practice. David Gutierrez will facilitate the experience as part of the Winter Solstice programming. Participation is an invitation, not a requirement.
No. We encourage participation while honoring individual needs and boundaries. Guests are welcome to make choices about their participation throughout the weekend.
Winter Solstice is a seasonal and ceremonial gathering rooted in reflection, connection, nature, and intentional community. You do not need to subscribe to a particular religion or spiritual tradition to participate.
Yes. Please share dietary restrictions and allergies during registration so our culinary team can plan accordingly.
All sales are nonrefundable, but can be transferred to a friend or family member or applied as credit toward a future gathering within 12 months.
This is intentionally designed as an intimate gathering. Capacity is limited to preserve the quality of the experience and maintain a meaningful connection with the Land and community.
Yes. Families and groups are welcome, with Plus One pricing and reduced rates for children. Schedule a call and our team will help organize your stay.
Still have questions?
Speak with the Team
The Longest Night. The Returning Light.
There is a moment each year when the darkness reaches its fullest.
And then, slowly, the light begins to return.
Winter Solstice offers us a chance to honor that same rhythm within ourselves.
- To pause.
- To release.
- To listen.
- To become still.
- To make space for what comes next.
Join us at ChoZen for a weekend of ceremony, nature, nourishment, community, and renewal.
Come as you are.
Leave with space for the light.
Space is limited. Questions? Our team is here to help.