Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman: Public Mystic and Freedom Fighter

Written by Therese Taylor-Stinson

Narrated by Lisa Renee Pitts

Harriet Tubman, freedom fighter and leader in the Underground Railroad, is one of the most significant figures in US history. Her courage and determination in bringing enslaved people to freedom have established her as an icon of the abolitionist movement. But behind the history of the heroine called "Moses" was a woman of deep faith.



In Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman, Therese Taylor-Stinson introduces Harriet, a woman born into slavery whose unwavering faith and practices in spirituality and contemplation carried her through insufferable abuse and hardship to become a leader for her people. Her profound internal liberation came from deep roots in mysticism, Christianity, nature spirituality, and African Indigenous beliefs that empowered her own escape from enslavement—giving her the strength and purpose to lead others on the road to freedom.



Harriet's lived spirituality illuminates a profound path forward for those of us longing for internal freedom, as well as justice and equity in our communities. As people of color, we must cultivate our full selves for our own liberation and the liberation of our communities. As the luminous significance of Harriet Tubman's spiritual life is revealed, so too is the path to our own spiritual truth, advocacy, and racial justice as we follow in her footsteps.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ChristianAudio.com
• Release date: May 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9781545920640

Therese Taylor-Stinson

Therese Taylor-Stinson is a native of Washington, DC, and an ordained Deacon and Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), who recently served as Moderator of the National Capital Presbytery. Taylor-Stinson is a founder and incorporator of the Spiritual Directors of Color Network, Ltd., and serves as the Managing Member. A graduate of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, she has served on the board of directors, is a member of the Shalem Society for Contemplative Leadership, and was commissioned associate faculty to offer Shalem's Personal Spiritual Deepening Program in her local community.

Reviews for Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman

[bookcrazed_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In these pages Therese Taylor-Stinson invites us to “walk the way of Harriet Tubman,” to tailor our own life journeys in the image of Tubman’s unrelenting and courageous journey. As the author states it: “This book endeavors to honor her voice to speak afresh to those who may be enslaved by systems, cultures, and ideas today that create blocks and the inability to know and be true to the image bearers they were called to be. Harriet still has the power to lead us to freedom.”Taylor-Stinson begins with a brief history of Tubman’s life as a seemingly fragile child born into slavery, whose diminutive stature in adulthood served her well in her active participation in the Underground Railroad, as well as working as a spy for Union forces during the Civil War. Too, her knowledge of the properties of healing herbs were key in her activities as a battlefield nurse, rendering aid to wounded black Union soldiers. These are some of the details that we are invited to recall as the author guides us through a series of contemplative exercises “to reflect on and enter into the mystical through a practice,” as the author explains it. These exercises, writes Taylor-Stinson, include accessing “the wisdom of Howard Thurman, the courage of John Lewis, the prose of Toni Morrison” and others “to help guide us to . . . emotional freedom and internal emancipation.”Though much of the text is directed to African American women, the content easily applies to any gender, race, or communal identity. As a generically white female octogenarian, who has the good fortune to count among her closest and most valued friends several African American women of superior intellect and exceptional talent, I have been blessed with good friends who have lovingly and patiently tolerated my unwitting use of racially insensitive language. Thus, Taylor-Stinson’s use of the word enslaved, rather than slave reminds me that subtle changes in the labels we attach to each other make enormous changes in the way we view each other as human beings. Certainly every slave deserved to be thought of as a worthy human being, and the term enslaved person grabs our attention and reminds us that we are speaking of flesh-and-blood, thinking, breathing, suffering persons!Working my way through Taylor-Stinson’s Practices, I am reminded of Julia Cameron’s venerable The Artist’s Way. Certainly, Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman could be effectively adapted to a group that would meet on a weekly basis to share their journey through her exercises.I cannot think of any other book that is so incredibly beautiful in every aspect. Holding it in my hands, the size is personal and perfect. The colors, iconography, illustration, and word content of the cover immediately announce to the reader that something precious and important is inside. Each time I sit down to open its pages, I settle into a state of loving anticipation. Thank you, Therese Taylor-Stinson.

[catsandcherrypie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book through the Early Reviewers program. While expecting a history of Harriet Tubman's life, I was pleasantly surprised with an aspect of her life that I had not thought about before. We all have a spiritual side to our lives and this book brings that to the forefront of Harriet's life. In these chaotic times, looking to our "Inward Sea" and a higher Being is comforting.

[scottjpearson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Christian and Islamic mysticisms make as their goal to achieve greater union with God. These forms of spirituality tend towards an individualistic interpretation of this goal. An individual privately seeks a mystic union with God. In contrast, African mysticism has traditionally been rooted in benefiting the community. Union with God is seen as benefitting the entire group. Contemporary African-American religion combines both of these approaches in an approach Therese Taylor-Stinson calls “public mysticism.” She explores this theme in this devotional book that walks through the spirituality of the great Harriet Tubman of Underground Railroad fame.This book is a devotional and not a history nor a biography. Those looking for a straightforward treatment on the life of Harriet Tubman will be disappointed. Instead, this work meditates upon her life using contemporary concepts of spirituality and broadly religious practices. Although Taylor-Stinson is a Presbyterian, the tenor of the book is simply monotheistic and could be used by a Muslim, Christian, Jew, or agnostic.As with a lot of devotionals, the wording can be a bit repetitious and verbose. Taylor-Stinson adds a section at the end of each chapter which transforms a concept (the subject of the chapter) into a practice, such as reading a song, writing a poem, or taking a spiritual walk. These practices are not focused on one specific religion but are more about communing with yourself, the universe, and if so inclined, the Creator of the universe.My biggest criticism of this book comes in its form. I’m not sure there is enough variation in the life of Tubman to make a multifaceted devotional book out of it. The concepts of “public mystic” and “freedom fighter” are helpful, but these two concepts over the course of a book can come out a bit thin and repetitive. Taylor-Stinson attempts to supplement Tubman with another African-American public mystic Howard Thurman. Although this general approach investigates the themes differently, it makes the subject matter swerve off the course of Tubman’s life. Perhaps a devotional with one chapter devoted to one particular figure would be better.Overall, those inclined to seeing religion’s impact on civil rights and communal justice will appreciate this book’s approach. Also, those interested in seeing different forms of spirituality than their own will benefit from the broad perspectives offered here. Even those who may not be traditionally religious but are open to a broad spirituality will find much to appreciate. If Harriet Tubman found some degree of external and internal freedom despite tremendous challenges of racism, disability, and misogyny, then we can benefit from following her example today.

[rcharronjd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I saw this listed in the Early Reviewers section I expected the book would be a biography of Harriet Tubman, a person for whom I have a great deal of respect. It is not a simple biography. It is better. It is a call to freedom. The book is timely. As a society we are close to losing freedom. Unless everyone is emancipated, no one is free. I learned that earning the Black Ministries Certificate at the former Hartford Theological Seminary. Taylor-Stinson, through the energies of Harriet Tubman reaffirms the need for universal emancipation.

[dsha67 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman: Public Mystic & Freedom Fighter by Therese Taylor-Stinson for review. Now the author states in her preface that this is not a simple straight forward history, which is what I was hoping to get, and she is accurate to her word. Setting this aside however, I found the book to be disjointed, poorly laid out and written and too often repetitive. It is likely that I am not the targeted audience for this book, and I was not comfortable with the way the labeled Harriet Tubman as a mystic nor how they define mysticism in the book. I was disappointed in the how limited the story of Harriet Tubman was, and how the author kept returning to the same simple platitudes and descriptions, too often referring to her narcolepsy as a spiritual event. I fully encourage everyone to read a book an make their own determination on its value and not to rely on someone else's evaluation of a book, I however rate this book a 1 star book and would not be able to recommend to anyone as a book on Harriet Tubman and am looking to read another book on her soon. That being said the passion of the author on her subject is felt throughout the book and I have no doubt she put her heart and soul into it.This is my own opinion and doesn't reflect anyone else.