John Calvi’s 2020 Year End Letter
Dear Friends,
Well, this has turned out to be a year of stunning revelations and struggles. I began with a writing retreat in Southern California that became a race across country as the pandemic set in. Home by end of March, Marshall and I quarantined and adjusted to the new norms – masked ventures to the post office/grocery stores only, shocking after long careers of extensive travel.
All my teaching work went to Zoom. Client work became appointments by phone. I was happy to discover that the energy work given me was able to be felt deeply by most participants via internet. Requests for my teaching increased as more groups saw the need for help with widespread trauma. The pandemic and frightening politics put many in a state of extreme anxiety and depression. My nearly four decades of work with sexual assault survivors, prisoners, tortured refugees, AIDS, and hospice seemed to be all preparation for the current state of despair exacerbating the regular ills of life. I’ve been much in demand.
My thanks for the many inquiries as to Marshall’s health. His exposure to petrol chemical herbicide affected the thyroid. He is much improved. He is my very best editor and IT person.
Both my books continue to help professionals and survivors. The Dance Between Hope & Fear (2013) is about trauma and healing, plus avoiding burnout. How Far Have You Traveled (2019) is about knowing your goodness, an important part of healing, wholeness, and being of service.
Reviews and feedback have been very positive and the small income is useful too. These are available at Quaker Books and Amazon. They will also be available in Ebook form very soon- check Kindle on Amazon.
Late October proved most challenging. I awoke one morning with a frightening shortness of breath. A trip to the ER and I was diagnosed with pulmonary emboli (blood clots in the lung). Treatments of blood thinners, rest/exercise, and diet have brought immediate improvement. A recovery period of three to six months is expected. I am resting at home, am out of danger, have had no pain, and am on the mend. I am grateful for good quality healthcare.
In order to rest thoroughly, I have had to cancel work through December and will not be responding to email or phone calls. It’s fortunate that this temporary trouble comes so close to my annual period of rest. As good health returns, I will focus on my writing and look forward to teaching invitations for 2021. I am relieved and happy my diagnosis is not complicated by Covid- I tested negative. I am very grateful to recover at home with Marshall.
Some of you have already responded with generous gifts. I am so grateful that my 39 years of hands-on work, teaching, and writing has been possible via gifts. You are my lifeline to continue. Please send a gift, help me get well, and move on to be of help come Spring. There is still much good that needs doing and I hope to be part of the effort to bring more Light.
Thank you, John Calvi
PO Box 301 Putney 05346 johncalvi.com paypal.me/JohnCalvi
PS lost my singing voice, auctioning my Martin D-35 Guitar and banjo soon, see blog at johncalvi.com
John Calvi’s 2020 Complete Calendar
Zoom presentations lectures workshops consultations
January & February Writing retreat Claremont CA
February 24 Friends in need Las Vegas NV
March 27 New England Yearly Meeting Worcester MA
Preparing for Pastoral Care During COVID-19 YouTube
April 6 Pendle Hill Love in the Time of Coronavirus Media PA YouTube
April 20 Pendle Hill Staying Centered Amidst Uncertainty & Loss Media PA YouTube
May 9 & 10 Cambridge Friends Mtg workshop Cambridge MA
June 28 – July 4 FGC Summer Gathering workshop Radford VA
July 10 & 11 North Carolina Yrly Mtg Con Greensboro NC
July 21 & 23 Vermont Positive Living Coalition Montpelier VT
September 9 Santa Fe Meeting Ministry & Counsel Santa Fe NM
October 23 Vermont Positive Living Coalition Montpelier VT
**November 3 New England Yearly Meeting stress reduction New England
**November 6-8 Colorado Regional Meeting Friends Denver CO
**November 14 Powell House Recovering- Elections/Covid Old Chatham NY
**November 21 Quaker Center workshop stress reduction Ben Lomond CA
**December 3 Alliant International University Marriage & Family Counseling
** CANCELLATIONS DUE TO PULMONARY EMBOLI
Celebrating KINDLE EBOOK for my books
The Dance Between Hope & Fear (2013) AND How Far Have You Traveled? (2019)
available from - Quakerbooks.org and Amazon, Ebook on Kindle
JOHNCALVI.COM My website has been redesigned with videos and new pictures.
On YouTube “Undoing the Damage Done by Violence” QuakerSpeak 4:19 min Oct 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5gu3ecqzsA
Love in the time of Covid Pendle Hill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7scU6TOgMxk&t=1713s
NEYM – Pastoral Care During Covid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgV3tq949gY&t=363s
On the Radio My radio interview on healing and torture. Listen free or purchase CD.
http://www.northernspiritradio.org/index.asp?command=adosearch
The Quaker Initiative to End Torture- QUIT! www.quit-torture-now.org
I continue as the founding convener of QUIT! Teaching about American torture history and present.
PLEASE SEND A GIFT TO MY ADDRESS BELOW OR paypal.me/JohnCalvi
Definitions- 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, Christmas gift- December 25
P. O. Box 301 Putney VT 05346
Thanks for all your help & support. I’ve been on the road 39 years thanks to the care of many!
PS lost my singing voice, auctioning my Martin D-35 Guitar and banjo soon, see blog at johncalvi.com
