27th Beethoven Letter 2011

The 27th Beethoven Letter by John Calvi

Dear Friends,

I am still here, still on the road, still at work – not brave so much as stubborn and happy for it all.
I am seeking your support to stay at work. As many of you know, my life work has been to help heal trauma as a certified massage therapist and a Quaker healer with a spiritual gift for releasing pain. I’ve been at work on this now since 1983- that’s 28 years of experience, travel, and seeking on behalf of survivors of all manner of hurt. First I learned about the rape crisis and did lots of work with survivors. And I still do since the sexually abused constitute the largest group of wounded on the planet. Next I did lots of work in the AIDS epidemic, even before we had the word AIDS or knowledge of transmission. Then I began work with refugees who had survived torture and inmates and others. A very busy 28 years (stories on my website) & I’m only 59 in May!

As my calendar shows, I am often on the road teaching by invitation to places and topics diverse and important. The healing of trauma is vast and I am a devoted tho slow learner. Sometimes I can help make small changes. Sometimes I can help make large changes. The gift that comes through me tends to be a gentle quiet shift to peace and calm and new understanding. This may not seem like much to many, but for someone who’s survived the worst that can be imagined- it’s a very large gift indeed. Calm for any survivor is very good medicine. A break from despair and glimpsing a future with less pain has power. Sometimes a change is larger than I have words for.

In 2005, I gathered with five other Quakers to form The Quaker Initiative to End Torture- QUIT! We have been engaged in education- informing people that US torture abroad hasn’t ended and has migrated to prisons at home. This too is my work and a leading that has given me much Light to continue, even though it’s burden is great. I still learn pacing and disciplines to be at my best. Even my husband Marshall Brewer after 25 years together says sometimes I don’t work too much.

Imagine such a thing- I have been able to travel and teach and get my hands on many people each year because of the support that comes from people who’ve seen this work and understand it’s important that it continue. I didn’t know I was going to live and work mainly on gifts. I wasn’t planning on quite this much suspense in my life. Nor do I find a dragging world-wide recession convenient. But I have found that support has come come each year with this letter, enough to go on and say- Yes, I can come teach maybe sometimes even if you can’t pay me because I have help.

There’s one question- Will you help me this year? Will you help me keep on and teach and touch in this time of great need from all corners? Brutality seems to be on an upswing. Compassion seems to be in danger of exhaustion. I work at ground level- a gracious way of saying cheap and easy. I would very much appreciate your kindness and generosity. I would like to stay in the fray and make more years of service. Can you help me please? I would like to be of use and I’m good at helping. And there is so much good that needs doing. Here we go again this year, are you with me?

John Calvi

In the Light
April 2011

PO Box 301 Putney VT 05346 www.johncalvi.com 802/387-4789 calvij@sover.net

WWW.JOHNCALVI.COM
New! Engagement dates, photos, journals and writings.
My thanks to Sehoon Ahn & Sean Conley for expertise and generosity.

John Calvi’s Partial Incomplete 2011 Calendar (as of April 2011)

February 1 Senate Quaker Initiative to End Torture- QUIT! Meetings Washington DC

March 11-13 Powell House Peace Within, Goodness Throughout weekend workshop powellhouse.org Old Chatham, NY

March 20 New Orleans Friends Meeting – QUIT Update New Orleans, LA

April 1-3 Guilford College Spirituality & Sexuality, QUIT Update, Staff/Faculty Avoiding Burnout Greensboro, NC

April 3-4 Durham Friends Meeting Goodness Workshop & Individual Sessions Durham, NC

April 5 Raleigh Friends Meeting Goodness & Healing Talk & Individual Sessions Raleigh, NC

May 6-8 Pendle Hill Washed in the Light by Tender Hands weekend workshop pendlehill.org Wallingford, PA

July 3-9 Friends General Conference Evening Plenary – To Go Where There Is No Light- American Torture, Journal Reading, Deep Relaxation workshop, fgcquaker.org Grinnell, IA

July 15 Vermont People with AIDS Coalition Retreat plenary, workshops Stowe, VT

August 6-11 New England Yearly Meeting workshops, QUIT Update Smithfield, RI

October 31 – Nov 1 Dragonfly Transitions avoiding burnout training, deep relaxation sessions
dragonflytransitions.com Klamath Falls, OR

November 4-6 Quaker Center Goodness weekend workshop, QUIT Update quakercenter.org
Ben Lomond, CA

November 12 QUIT Consultation Durham Friends Mtg Durham, NC

PLEASE SEND A GIFT TO MY ADDRESS BELOW, THANKS!
Definitions- tax law says a donation carries the expectation of work for which I am taxed.
A gift is given out of respect, affection, or charity, such as
my birthday- May 14, my wedding anniversary- August 26, or a Christmas gift.

P. O. Box 301 Putney VT 05346

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP!
I need to reduce paper mail to actual live Beethoven Letter readers.
I am happy to keep you on my Beethoven mailing list. Simply send word.
Please help by sending your e-mail address to calvij@sover.net or a postcard.