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.

Held by Love: Celebrating the Summer Solstice
By Catherine Johnston My church practiced baptisms last week. As I watched friends accept the waters

Honk at Me, Please: On Letting Strangers Open My Heart
Photo credit: Abe Louise Young By Abe Louise Young I saw a line from an iconic

Contemplative Trove: Practice Opportunities in June and July
By Melanie P. Moore, et. al. At the end of each month, we publish a listing

Finding Transformation During Ordinary Time
Photo credit: Sandy Reich By Holly Porter-Phillips This past Sunday was Pentecost, which marks the end

That Time I Tried to Take My Spiritual Practice with Me on Vacation
Contemplating the Sea of Cortez with friends. (Photo credit: S.J. Reich) By Melanie P. Moore My

Beholding the Beauty that Surrounds Us
Just as the beauty of nature is taking hold in landscapes this month, we are letting

Motherhood: It Begins with Kindness
By Kathleen Grady-Greene It’s 6:30 a.m. as my son bursts through the bedroom door and flips

Contemplative Trove: Practice Opportunities in May and June
By Melanie P. Moore, et. al. Each month, we publish a listing of upcoming contemplative and

Celebrating National Poetry Month
While T.S. Eliot called April “the cruellest month” in the opening lines of “The Wasteland,” I