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[[Image:Tomberg_valentin.jpg|right|frame]]

'''Valentin Arnoldevitch Tomberg''' February 27, 1900 - February 24, 1973 was a Russian [[mysticism|mystic]], polyglot scholar and [[hermeticism|hermetic]] Christian mage.

'''Valentin Arnoldevitch Tomberg''' February 27, 1900 - February 24, 1973 was a Russian [[mysticism|mystic]], polyglot scholar and [[hermeticism|hermetic]] Christian mage.

 

Valentin Tomberg was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. His parents were Protestant; the mother was a devout Russian and the father a sceptic of Baltic origin. As an adolescent, Tomberg was drawn to [[Theosophy]] and the mystical practices of [[Eastern Orthodoxy]].  In 1917 he was initiated into Hermetic Martinism by Prof. G. O. Mebes. He also discovered the works of Rudolf Steiner. During the Russian Revolution that shortly followed, Tomberg's parents were shot by looters. In 1920 Tomberg fled to Tallinn in Estonia.  Tomberg worked as a nurse at a hospital, in a pharmacy, on a farm and in the Tallinn Central Post Office. He studied languages and comparative religion at the University of Tartu in Estonia.  

Valentin Tomberg was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. His parents were Protestant; the mother was a devout Russian and the father a sceptic of Baltic origin. As an adolescent, Tomberg was drawn to [[Theosophy]] and the mystical practices of [[Eastern Orthodoxy]].  In 1917 he was initiated into Hermetic Martinism by Prof. G. O. Mebes. He also discovered the works of Rudolf Steiner. During the Russian Revolution that shortly followed, Tomberg's parents were shot by looters. In 1920 Tomberg fled to Tallinn in Estonia.  Tomberg worked as a nurse at a hospital, in a pharmacy, on a farm and in the Tallinn Central Post Office. He studied languages and comparative religion at the University of Tartu in Estonia.  

 

In 1925, Tomberg joined [[Rudolf Steiner]]'s [[Anthroposophy|Anthroposophical Society]]. He married Maria Demski, a Polish Catholic, in the early 1930's; they had a son, Alexis. During the 1930's, Tomberg, then in his 30's, published his original occult research in a number of articles and lectures, which made him a controversial figure in Anthroposophical circles. As a result of the controversies, in 1938 the Tomberg's were invited to move to Amsterdam. In 1940, however, he was asked to withdraw from the Anthroposophical Society in the Netherlands as well, by its chairman Zeylmans van Emmichhoven, due to his being too controversial.  

In 1925, Tomberg joined [[Rudolf Steiner]]'s [[Anthroposophy|Anthroposophical Society]]. He married Maria Demski, a Polish Catholic, in the early 1930's; they had a son, Alexis. During the 1930's, Tomberg, then in his 30's, published his original occult research in a number of articles and lectures, which made him a controversial figure in Anthroposophical circles. As a result of the controversies, in 1938 the Tomberg's were invited to move to Amsterdam. In 1940, however, he was asked to withdraw from the Anthroposophical Society in the Netherlands as well, by its chairman Zeylmans van Emmichhoven, due to his being too controversial.  

 

He was active in Dutch Nazi resistance by hiding allied pilots and parachuters. Tomberg and a Russian friend, the poet-philosopher [[Nikolai Belotsvietof]], allegedly approached the leader of the Christian Community, Emil Bock about creating a new ritual focusing on Sophia, but was rebuffed. He then joined the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] in Holland but left shortly thereafter, as its leadership turned out to be sympathetic to Nazism.  

He was active in Dutch Nazi resistance by hiding allied pilots and parachuters. Tomberg and a Russian friend, the poet-philosopher [[Nikolai Belotsvietof]], allegedly approached the leader of the Christian Community, Emil Bock about creating a new ritual focusing on Sophia, but was rebuffed. He then joined the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] in Holland but left shortly thereafter, as its leadership turned out to be sympathetic to Nazism.  

Shortly after the war he helped founding a community college in the Ruhr area. In 1948, however, he moved to England, where he became a translator for the [[BBC]] monitoring Soviet broadcasts during the Cold War. He retired early, to Reading near the [[River Thames]] in 1960, where he worked on the manuscripts for his main work, written in French and entitled ''Méditations sûr les 22 arcanes majeurs du Tarot'', ''[[Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism]]'' in English.  

Shortly after the war he helped founding a community college in the Ruhr area. In 1948, however, he moved to England, where he became a translator for the [[BBC]] monitoring Soviet broadcasts during the Cold War. He retired early, to Reading near the [[River Thames]] in 1960, where he worked on the manuscripts for his main work, written in French and entitled ''Méditations sûr les 22 arcanes majeurs du Tarot'', ''[[Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism]]'' in English.  

 

He died on a holiday in Majorca. Two weeks later his wife and collaborator Maria died as well. A Dutch or German rough translation of the manuscript to ''Méditations sûr les 22 arcanes majeurs du Tarot'' was circulated in the Netherlands against Tomberg's intentions a year before his death but was only formally published in 1984.  

He died on a holiday in Majorca. Two weeks later his wife and collaborator Maria died as well. A Dutch or German rough translation of the manuscript to ''Méditations sûr les 22 arcanes majeurs du Tarot'' was circulated in the Netherlands against Tomberg's intentions a year before his death but was only formally published in 1984.