Another very intriguing addition to the perception of the possible esoteric interests of Pope John Paul II came from a friend of my Alpheus web site in the form of a set of photos, one of which shows the pope sitting behind his desk with a stack of books. The bottom two books are arguably the 2-volume set of “Die Grossen Arcana des Tarot,” which is the 1983 German edition of the French original and out of which sections were taken and published in English as “Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism.”
The book was anonymously written by the Catholic writer and ex-Anthroposophist Valentin Tomberg and was published in 1972 just before he died. The eminent esotericism scholar Antoine Faivre states that in
terms of content and reception it has to be positioned among the foremost books in Western esotericism published in the 20th century. (Dictionary of Gnosis & Western Esotericism, 112)
On closer inspection the images actually do not match up, for the books on the pope’s desk have the arrows on the spine of the book pointing north-east (if you position the book straight up), …
… while on the clear picture of the original book the arrows point north-west:
Different book? Initially I was skeptical to find such a book on the desk of the pope while being photographed for a prominent magazine. Maybe there just was some semblance and based on that the person who found the images, Ed Manhood, just jumped to the conclusion that the two books were identical. My solution to that little conundrum was to test whether it was possible that the picture of the pope at his desk was maybe a mirrored picture. To determine that possibility from the appearance of the titles is impossible, because they are not clear enough. To actually find out I focused on the question of whether the pope wears his wristwatch on his left or right wrist. On the photo it is clear he is wearing it on his right wrist. But is that the wrist he usually wears it? Apparently not. I found through Google Images at least three clear photos where he is wearing his watch on the left. And here is one:
Based on this I have to conclude that the 1988 Weltbild photo is a mirror image of the original. Therefore, if you ‘mirror’ the photo back, the arrow will go from pointing north-east to north-west …
… just as is the case on the spine on the clear photo (here turned 180 degrees to align them again), and the discrepancy is solved:
Therefore the original picture of the pope behind his desk was this:
Apparently the book landed on the pope’s desk as a gift from one of his Cardinals, the German Jesuit Hans Urs von Balthasar, who also had written its very laudatory foreword, which by itself is another startling addition to the emerging picture here of a Hermeticist-Catholic connection here.
A thinking, praying Christian of unmistakable purity reveals to us the symbols of Christian Hermeticism in its various levels of mysticism, gnosis and magic, taking in also the Cabbala and certain elements of astrology and alchemy. These symbols are summarised in the twenty-two so-called “Major Arcana” of the Tarot cards. By way of the Major Arcana the author seeks to lead meditatively into the deeper, all-embracing wisdom of the Catholic Mystery.
Firstly, it may be recalled that such an attempt is to be found nowhere in the history of philosophical, theological and Catholic thought.
And the connection is not secretive either. On the contrary. The American Cistercian monk and populizer of a practice named ‘centering prayer,’ Fr. Thomas Keating openly calls in a review for the book to become a fundamental Christian text.
With its firm grasp of tradition, its balance, wisdom, profundity, openness to truth, and comprehensive approach to reality, it deserves to be the basis of a course in spirituality in every Christian institution of higher learning and what would be even better, the point of departure and unifying vision of the whole curriculum.
Wow. What’s going on here? Specifically, my question would be: What are the possible spiritual-intellectual ways Wojtyla, Balthasar and Keating are relating to Tomberg’s book? Are they Hermeticist moles in the Vatican spreading esotericism amongst thinking Catholics? Or are they part of an agenda to subsume Hermeticism under Catholicism with possibly a sinister Jesuitical twist? Or are they ecumenical syncretists? Or are they a part, consciously or not, of a Mahatmic agenda to reform Catholicism along Occult lines? After all Blavatsky stated:
Like an immense boa-constrictor, Error, in every shape, encircles mankind, trying to smother in her deadly coils every aspiration towards truth and light. But Error is powerful only on the surface, prevented as she is by Occult Nature from going any deeper; for the same Occult Nature encircles the whole globe, in every direction, leaving not even the darkest corner unvisited. And, whether by phenomenon or miracle, by spirit-hook or bishop’s crook, Occultism must win the day, before the present era reaches “Sani’s (Saturn’s) triple septenary” of the Western Cycle in Europe, in other words—before the end of the twenty-first century “A.D.” (BCW XIV, p. 27)
Which of these possibilities might muster some proof? Is there anything in Tomberg’s text that might give a clue? I didn’t read the book, so I don’t know. Anybody?
Dear Ed,
Apologies for late response, incorrectly representing your relation to the pictures and for misspelling your last name.
So, for the record, the sequence of finding the photos was as follows: It was a friend of Alpheus who, after reading my first article on the pope and phenomenology, directed my attention to the pictures on David Carter’s web site dedicated to “Meditations on the Tarot,” where you were mentioned for having made the pictures available, which you, as you explain above, received from a friend of yours, and he might be the one who made the first identification (or also received them from someone else).
Meanwhile I found some precedents of the Catholic church engaging in esoteric matters. I found it in HPB’s Isis Unveiled in which she makes the allegation that the Jesuits created spurious Masonic grades and rituals with the object of bending some parts of Masonry towards a more Christian and theistic nature. Maybe that was their motivation with ‘promoting’ Tomberg’s work. This might be a nice follow up.
they’re all occultists. wotija was involved in all kinds of stuff back in poland and even while he was pope. there are pictures of him in hindu rituals as well–as pope. his bff mother theresa had her mission in calcutta, which is kali’s city, and not only that, actually took over part of the kali temple in that city for her mission. most of her “sisters” weren’t catholic at all.
but no, this isn’t in the happy go lucky neo-pagan kind of way. these people are diabolical. the church has always been full of occultists at the top. they aren’t interested in liberating humanity. quite the opposite.
for at least the last 60 years there has been an active movement in the hierarchy to dismantle the church. a new religion is coming and jpii and b xvi laid the groundwork for it. it will be a goddess religion and mary will be the focal point. many pagans will be tricked into following this new religion, just like 2000 years ago when they became christians.
but, on the other hand, humans need ritual and civic religion. it’s part of our nature. it will always be controlled by the authorities. christianity was an improvement over the roman cults. it could be that the goddess religion will also be a slight improvement.
most people don’t realize that all the early christian martyrs were heretics, because there was no orthodoxy at the time. it wasn’t until all the other sects were subdued by the empire that the priests of the mystery cults and the emperor constantine, conspired to create a state religion that would replace roman rule. so unfortunately, that probably means that the new martyrs will be catholics and christians who refuse to accept the goddess. they are already preparing them for martyrdom in their sermons. it’s sickening.
even though it’s a necessary evil, i hate religion. and i know way too much about it. if i were a weaker person it would drive me to drink.
Dear Sully,
Thank you for that perspective. I can see the logic of the RCC trying to stay relevant in these days by, for example, embracing Darwinism, or, as you indicate, incorporate some New Age elements.
I do not know how occult the top of the RCC is, nor how evil. Do you have any other sources to back up your claims?
August 1, 2009, e-mail from Douglas Hein:
Greetings!
I came across an article that seems to have originated with your website, entitled: “Pope John Paul II Meditating of the Tarot?” It prompted the following thoughts for your consideration.
So, why would a Catholic, and especially a Pope, be reading Tomberg’s “Meditations?” I am Roman Catholic and Esoteric. Most Catholics who know me would be impressed with my observation of the Catholic Faith. Many of the same would be confused by my inner meditations, speculations and beliefs. I have read Tomberg’s “Meditations” and it articulates well much of my own thinking; it was like coming home. Regarding Pope John Paul II, I was aware of the photo of Tomberg’s book sitting on the Popes desk and the gift of this book to him from Cardinal Balthasar, who penned its forward. A few musings … The name “John Paul” was first taken by John Paul I in 1978. He said it was in honor of his two predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI. This was the first time in papal history that a pope had taken a double name, and the first time a pope had officially appended the designation “the first” to the regnal name. What is it’s true significance?
The “Church of John” has always been a cipher for the “secret church” or esoteric stream of Christianity. “Paul” has traditionally been code for the exoteric church. Here, in this double name, we have John and Paul re-uniting. Could this have been a deliberate decision based on an esoteric understanding that it was the proper time to bring the two streams back together? Interestingly, John Paul I was pope for 33 days and then died. 33 – the number of years of Jesus’ life. 33 – the number signifying the culmination and integration of the 32 Paths of Wisdom of the Tree of Life into a coherent whole. The 32 paths of wisdom = the 22 paths of the Tree of Life + the 10 Sefirot. The 22 paths of the Tree of Life = the 22 Arcana of the Tarot. (And of course, we have the 32 degrees of Scottish Freemasonry, with a 33rd degree bestowed on the select few.) Anyway, John Paul II takes up the mantle by assuming the same double name. Deliberate? Of course, but esoteric? Perhaps. Without going to find the references, Pope John Paul II, in his youth, was involved in a theatre troupe working though the anthroposophical mystery plays of Rudolf Steiner. This was just prior to the young Wojtyła being hit by a truck and encountering Christ in a way that caused him to enter the Catholic priesthood. Much could be written on certain aspects of Pope JP II’s theology that reflect these anthroposophical themes. In any case, there is an early connection to the very stream of esoterica in which Tomberg was steeped. So, years later, we see the aged Pope with a copy of the original German two-volume copy of Tomberg’s opus. Hmmm. Beyond the notice of most, and only meaningful to those who recognize the sign. Another tangential, yet interesting, clue that a hermetic stream has existed within the exoteric shell of Roman Catholicism is the Seal of the Jesuit Order, and the Order’s abbreviated (esoteric) motto, “Magis,” taken from the official (exoteric) motto, “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.” Magis … ahh, the connotations! More! Master. Teacher. Magistrate. Magic. Magis. The seal, unveiled in all its glory, stands naked and revealed by the great Jesuit polymath (and father of Egyptology), Athanasius Kircher, in his work, “Oedipus Aegyptiacus,” or “Son of Egypt.” You can see an image of what I call the unveiled version herein. There is a veritable esoteric feast contained therein. Draw your own conclusions. These are just a very few thought on how and why Tomberg’s work would up on John Paul II’s desk. Hope you have enjoyed.
Regards,
Doug Hein, Ordo Unim
The official Jesuit Seal, and the very intriguing Kircher version!
[See images here]
Whaww! I would like to contact you Doug Hein…How?