The 28th Beethoven
Letter – John Calvi
Dear
Friends,
Thirty
years ago a young woman climbed on to my massage table with a nervous condition
doctors were unable to name. My hands
became quite warm and she became much better after recalling an earlier
abduction, rape, and torture. That brief
session 30 years ago was the beginning of a life’s work as a Quaker healer with
a gift for releasing pain following trauma.
I turn 60 on May 14th and realize I’ve given half my life to
this traveling work of touching and teaching.
It seems a very long time. I’ve experienced
it as a large mosaic moving quickly- fast, full, and very good.
I was
honored with the Quaker Initiative to End Torture- QUIT! last July with an
invitation to speak at Friends General Conference. This talk on healing America by ending
torture is available at the FGC bookstore.
As I began with torture, this was a culmination of 3 decades of study
and work. All together it’s been an
experience of much Light and learning.
As you
can see by my calendar, I am busy with various situations where healing is needed. I began working in the rape crisis in 1982,
AIDS in 1983, prisons in 1985, tortured refugees in 1988. And I’ve continued with each of these groups
over the years, going where invitation calls me. I am writing more and an editor has come bravely
forward to gather and edit my collected writings and journals for a book. Many have enjoyed the writings on my website
and blog. Now much more becomes
possible.
I have
continued to live mainly on gifts all this time. I have never quite relaxed into the suspense
of it all and I don’t recommend this during world wide economic downturns. But over
the years I have been given wonderful generosity to go forward, never refusing
my work to those in need for lack of funding.
This has been a great blessing. I
can put the emphasis on getting good work done thanks to many who know my gifts
and send support. I need your help
celebrating 30 years and going on.
Working
by invitation, living on gifts- it’s been a fairly simple arrangement that has
made for much good work in the world.
Please help me continue. I am
grateful to have had so full a life with so many of you along with me.
In the
Light,
John Calvi April 2012
John Calvi’s
partial incomplete 2012 Calendar (as of April 2012)
Celebrating 30
Years of Good Works on the road!
Big thanks to Sehoon Ahn for
web support!
February
4 Quaker Studies Goodness Wellesley Mtg
Wellesley, MA
April
29 Doylestown Friends Meeting QUIT Update
Doylestown, PA
May
10-13 QUAKERS UNITED IN PUBLISHING QUIP PENDLE HILL
May
14-17 BOOK WORK WITH SHELLY ANGEL AT PENDLE HILL
May 18
– 20 Pendle Hill Goodness workshop
Wallingford PA
July
13 VT People w/Aids Coalition workshops stress reduction Stowe, VT
August
4 – 9 New England Yearly Meeting workshops Smithfield, RI
August
13-18 Pacific Yearly Meeting Plenary Walker Ranch Petaluma, CA
August
21 – 23 Dragonfly Transitions workshops Klamath Falls, OR
October
15-19 Dragonfly Transitions workshops Klamath Falls, OR
October
23 Dominican University Gender Studies San Raphel, CA
October
26-28 Quaker Center Healing workshop Ben Lomond, CA
November
16 – 18 Powell House Healing Hands Healing Self
Old Chatham, NY
In celebrating 30 years
of a life’s work and the good news of a brave editor who is collecting and
shaping all my writings and journals for a book, I hope you will be in touch
with support.
Here is the link to my talk to
Friends General Conference on healing America by ending torture.
http://www.quakerbooks.org/to_go_where_there_is_no_light.php
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.
