The Two HT’s:  Harriet Tubman and Howard Thurman, Public Mystics for Our Time

5.003 reviews
Location icon
13475 Proctor Road, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Users icon
Up to 30 in group
Date
May 2, 2026

About this Retreat

Details of this retreat

Harriet Tubman is most often remembered for her daring leadership of the Underground Railroad—but her courage was rooted in something deeper. She was a Public Mystic, guided by an inner freedom that allowed her to move beyond fear and risk everything to liberate others. Her work was not only physical resistance, but spiritual defiance—a profound embodiment of emotional and interior freedom.

Howard Thurman, another Public Mystic shaped by a lineage of resilience—his grandmother having been enslaved—also cultivated this inner liberation. Rising from humble beginnings, Thurman became a renowned scholar and spiritual teacher. In his influential book Jesus and the Disinherited, he reveals Jesus as one of the marginalized, a figure who discovered deep inner freedom as a child of God and sought to awaken that same freedom in others.

This retreat invites you into the wisdom of these two “HTs,” offering space to reflect, breathe, and listen deeply. Through their stories and insights, we will explore the path of emotional freedom and self-differentiation—an inward journey that opens the possibility of living with greater clarity, courage, and compassion.
 

Schedule

Lunch is included.
Note: Schedule is approximate and may change

Getting Here

Location icon Cranaleith, 13475 Proctor Road, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Directions

By Car:
From I-95: Take Woodhaven Road exit (Route 63 WEST) almost to the end, to where it narrows to one lane. Turn left onto Evans Street. At slight, turn right onto Byberry Road for approximately ONE mile to Proctor Road. Turn RIGHT and continue for 1/8 mile and Cranaleith will be on the RIGHT. From Roosevelt Boulevard: If coming North, turn LEFT onto Southampton Road (If coming South on Route 1, make a RIGHT on Southampton). Continue on Southampton Road for ONE mile to Worthington Road (stop sign). Turn LEFT on to Worthington Road, continue for ONE block to Napier Street. Turn RIGHT and proceed for THREE blocks to Proctor Road. Turn RIGHT onto Proctor Road and then make an immediate RIGHT into Cranaleith’s driveway. From PA Turnpike: Exit at #351 (Bensalem Exit). Go SOUTH on Route 1. Immediately after the Street Road Exit and Andy’s Diner, the lanes divide. Be sure to stay in the far RIGHT lane. When you come to the intersection of Southampton Road, turn RIGHT. Continue on Southampton Road for ONE mile to Worthington Road (stop sign). Turn LEFT onto Worthington Road, continue for ONE block to Napier Street. Turn RIGHT and proceed for THREE blocks to Proctor Road. Turn RIGHT onto Proctor Road and then make an immediate RIGHT into Cranaleith’s driveway.

PROBLEM WITH GOOGLE DIRECTIONS: If you are coming from the PA Turnpike, online directions automatically send you onto Street Road/132W after exiting the Turnpike and heading down Route 1 South. Many people mistakenly go East on Street Road. And others miss the subsequent Trevose Road turn because it isn’t properly marked. It’s much easier to avoid Street Road by staying on 1 South (in the right-hand lane) until Southampton Road, where you make a right. Then make a left on Worthington, a right on Napier and a right on Proctor.

By Train:
From the city (University City, 30th St. Station, Suburban Station, Market East, etc.), take the West Trenton commuter train to SOMERTON. From the station walk LEFT on Edison Avenue for two blocks. Crossover Trevose Road and then RIGHT onto Proctor Road. Cranaleith will be on the LEFT. Transportation from the station may be arranged.

By Bus:
From the Frankford Terminal, take No. 58 bus up Bustleton Ave. to Byberry Road. Walk EAST on Byberry Road for two blocks to Proctor Road. Turn LEFT onto Proctor Road and proceed for 1/8 mile. Cranaleith will be on the RIGHT.

By Plane:
From Philadelphia International Airport, take the airport train to 30th Street Station, and transfer to the R3 — West Trenton Commuter Train to SOMERTON. From the station walk LEFT on Edison Avenue for two blocks. Crossover Trevose Road and then RIGHT onto Proctor Road. Cranaleith will be on the LEFT. Transportation from the station may be arranged.

Accommodation

Price

Venue & Amenities

A/C in Rooms icon A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi icon Free Wifi
Spa icon Spa
Sauna icon Sauna
Pool icon Pool
Towels icon Towels
Free Parking icon Free Parking
Kitchen icon Kitchen
Tour Assistance icon Tour Assistance
Hot Tub icon Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea icon Coffee/Tea
Cafe icon Cafe
Restaurant icon Restaurant
Fitness Center icon Fitness Center
Yoga Studio icon Yoga Studio
Housekeeping icon Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent icon Bicycles For Rent

Meals

Menu Types

Lunch is provided.

What's Included

  • Lunch and program.

What's Not Included

  • Transportation
  • Airfare

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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7 Day Individually Directed Silent Retreat
This was my second 7 day retreat at Cranaleith, in addition to ongoing individual spiritual direction since 2014. I recommend the sisters at Cranaleith for their compassionate and insightful direction. If you are looking to spend time in the serenity of God and nature, it is a worthy destination.

5.0
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Silent Retreat (7) Days
Excellent event

5.0
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A Lovely Week
Space, quiet, time -- a strong sense of whole-ness throughout. Happy to be with others who longed for those same things and respected that wish in everyone else.

Very nice meals, lovingly and cheerfully prepared, many of the ingredients from the garden on the property. (Maybe a bit too much kale, though! :))

A knowledgeable and kind director.

I felt free and very welcome. Thanks very much for this week.

Sr. Nuala Cotter, RA

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