The Journey

1954 - 1977 The Virginia Years. Attended the Methodist Church (Christened and Confirmed). First

Spiritual encounters occurred. Spiritual foundation was formed. Faith established.

1977 Bachelor Degree with Honors in English & Theatre from Clinch Valley College (now called the University of Virginia at Wise) in Wise, VA.

1979 Master of Library Science, University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY.

1986—2005 Children’s Librarian, Supervisor, & School Librarian, and Regional Library Children's Services Consultant in Massachusetts.

1993 — Spiritually transformed through an encounter with Christ at Camp Aldersgate, a United Methodist Church Camp in Rhode Island.

1994 Baptised by Immersion. This was a believer's baptism. The immersion was a total surrender, letting go, dying of the self to be "reborn" as a purified, child of God.

1995 Instructor of Discipleship Bible Study.

1998 Called to ministry. Master of Divinity studies began first at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, and continued at Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Centre, MA.

2003 Certified Instructor, Companions in Christ.

2004 Certified Instructor, I-Safe -- an Internet Safety Course

Early January 2005 Received Spirit Guidance to leave employment as a library consultant in preparation for ministry. After “wrestling with God” resigned in April 2005.

July 1, 2005 Appointed Pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Greenfield, MA.

August 2005 Certified Local Pastor, United Methodist Church

Fall 2005 Registered Spiritual Director, Spiritual Director’s International

Fall 2005 Learned to weave on a loom. Later, in the spring and summer of 2006, called to make healing shawls in prayer, with the designs dictated by Spirit. These were gifted to the designated recipients.

January 2006 Shamanic journey began. Began work with Shaman Nancy Higgins.

Winter & Spring 2006 Began the practice of disciplined centering meditation on a daily basis.

Spring 2006 Given the Native name "RavenSpirit" by Grandmother Standing Bear (Nancy Higgins). Later the Raven presented itself as Totem.

Spring 2006 - Spring 2007 Assisted Shaman Grandmother Standing Bear (Nancy Higgins) with the monthly Full Moon Sweat Lodge, by holding energy in the lodge.

Spring 2006 Spiritually initiated by Swami Paramanand-ji. In 2008 received Initiate Name, Bhaktanand, which means "bliss through devotion to God".

Summer 2006 Following the guidance of Spirit, visited Duke University Hospital in North Carolina to experience the energy of the space in which her father spent the last week of his earth walk. Gifted with the vision of that time while there. Nine ravens flew across her path as she left, signifying completion.

Fall 2006 - January 2008 Led prayer & energetic healing service at the 1st United Methodist Church, Greenfield, MA. During these monthly services, participants received laying-on-of hands energetic healing work through the work of the Divine as both Pastor Mary Ann Tourjee and the Rev. Nancy Higgins offered themselves as open channels for this work.

Spring 2007 Introduced Tibetan Sand Painting as prayer at the 1st United Methodist Church, Greenfield

Spring 2007 Initiated prayers for world peace — 1000+ origami doves were made, carrying 7000+ prayers . The doves hang in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church, Greenfield, MA, lifting those prayers of the people over and over again.

Summer 2007 Accepted position as full-time Director of Lilly Library in Florence, MA: she continues in that position along with her work at the Interfaith Healing Center.

Fall 2007 Entered The New Seminary in New York City for ordination as an Interfaith Minister. Ordination is scheduled for June 2009.

Fall 2007 Retreat Leader for the Western Massachusetts & Connecticut District of the United Methodist Church Clergy Retreat held at Mercy Center in CT. Retreat Theme: Experiencing God through Your Senses. Pastor Mary Ann Tourjee led the clergy in a exploration of experiencing God through the sense of sight.

December 2007 - present Following Spirit Guidance, opened Spirit, Mind, & Heart Interfaith Healing Center with Sahajanand -- the Rev. Nancy Higgins. Later, following Divine Guidance, the name was changed to Namaste Interfaith Healing Center™. Weekly meditations are held. Healing sessions & workshops are available. Reiki classes are offered seasonally. By September 2008 The Interfaith Healing Center had moved to The Tibetan Plaza, and had begun offering weekly Interfaith Worship Services and weekly Guided Meditations.

January 2008 to present Crystal Resonance Therapy Practitioner Student, studying under Naisha Ahsian, the author of The Book of Stones.

January 2008 After wrestling with God since June 2007, the match was over. Following the Spirit Guidance, resigned as pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Greenfield, MA to follow the path of interfaith ministry and healing ministries.

June 9, 2008 Received Spiritual Purification Initiation for Interfaith Ministry at The New Seminary Retreat held at the Passionist Father's Monastery in New York City.

June 10, 2008 Spiritually Initiated into Interfaith Ministry and presented the Interfaith Ministerial Stole to wear by The New Seminary at the Passionist Father’s in New York City.

September 2008 Relocated The Interfaith Healing Center to The Tibetan Plaza.

Fall 2008 With Rev. Nancy Higgins, began offering a full range of programs at The Interfaith Healing Center, including: weekly Interfaith Worship, weekly Guided Meditation, monthly Healing Arts Workshops, Spiritual Direction by appointment, and private shamanic healing sessions.

June 12, 2009   Rev. Mary Ann "RavenSpirit" Bhaktanand Tourjee took her vows to enter into Interfaith Ministry and received approval for ordination from The New Seminary in New York City.

June 14, 2009   Rev. Mary Anderson Banner Tourjee was Ordained at Riverside Church in New York City as an Interfaith Minister in affiliation with the Interfaith Temple of New York City. 

Spiritual Names
Given Along The Journey:

Birth Name: “Mary Ann” (Mary Anderson)

Shamanic Name: RavenSpirit

Spirit Name: Waterlilly

Initiate Name: Bhaktanand, which means “Bliss through devotion to God”, given by Swami-ji Parmanand, Spring 2008.

Writings by Mary Ann Tourjee:
"Living the Image"
Brochure: "Soul Issues: Mysticism & Reincarnation"

Reincarnation: A Historical Timeline

Numerology -- Presidency By Numbers: The 44th Presidency

Contact Mary Ann: 413-446-0159