Practicing Presence
The Abbey Blog
Welcome to The Abbey Blog 2.0, so to speak. In addition to redesigning the website, we are revamping the blog. I’m delighted and humbled to take on the role of editor. My goal is to create and curate content in support of the mission of The Abbey and as a resource to those who visit.
We’ve titled the blog Practicing Presence, a title that could mean several things—creating an individual practice of presence, practicing (repeating, rehearsing) to get better at being present wherever we are, working together in community as a practice of presence to each other and the divine, or whatever these words might mean for you.
At Practicing Presence, we welcome submissions and are open to general submissions year-round. Several times a year we will have special calls for submissions around themed issues. General Submission Guidelines can be found here.
Practicing Presence is published weekly, on Wednesdays. You may subscribe if you’d like to be notified via email each time a new post publishes. Comments are welcome—both public comments on the blog itself as well as comments sent directly to me via email. You may reach me with comments, suggestions, and any feedback you’d like to share at editor@theabbey.us.
I look forward to practicing presence with you as companions on the spiritual path.

Hollywood’s Contribution to My Faith
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a “Double Feature” post sharing two perspectives on faith via some of

Rituals: Allowing Sabbath to Embrace Me
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This post about keeping Sabbath continues our quarterly series on the making of rituals.

Of Green Beer, Thin Places, and Patrick: Grappling with Irish Traditions and Celtic Spirituality
By Catherine Tyndall Boyd There’s an old joke that everyone is Irish on March 17. I’ll

It Had Started So Well: #LentFail. Yes, already.
By Melanie P. Moore It really had started well. And by “started,” I mean I had

Contemplative Trove: Sharing Opportunities in March and April
By Melanie P. Moore, et. al. This Contemplative Trove is a full one! Monthly, we publish

Reckoning the Consequences of My (White) Actions
[EDITOR’S NOTE: We are delighted to present this new piece by Dr. Amy Moehnke as a

Telling Stories as a Spirituality of Liberation
By Melanie P. Moore “I used to think that Christian contemplation was reserved for white men

Finding Heart Rocks
By Diana Dawson Stepping over gnarled roots of ancient oaks and navigating rutted dirt trails, I

Living Inspiration
[EDITOR’S NOTE: In February, as a continuation of the work many of us are doing with