Symbolism of the checkerboard ,king, knight,queen rtc in tarot, occult and qaballah

[brifae]

King-princess in the tarot/occult

Crowley writes in his Book of Thoth:

The Qabalists, devising the Tarot, then proceeded to make pictures of these extremely abstract ideas of Father, Mother, Son and Daughter, and they called them King, Queen, Prince and Princess. It is confusing, but they were also called Knight, Queen, King and Princess. Sometimes, too, the Prince and Princess are called "Emperor" and "Empress".

The reason for this confusion is connected with the doctrine of the Fool of the Tarot, the legendary Wanderer, who wins the King's daughter, a legend which is connected with the old and exceedingly wise plan of choosing the successor to a king by his ability to win the princess from all competitors. (Frazer's Golden Bough is the authority on this subject.)

It has been thought better, for the present pack, to adopt the term "Knight", "Queen", "Prince" and "Princess", to represent the series Father, Mother, Son, Daughter, because the doctrine involved, which is extraordinarily complex and difficult, demands it. The Father is "Knight" because he is represented as riding on a borse.

The Queens represent the watery side of each element, the daughters of the old Kings that were replaced by the stormy Knights. The Queens are thus the complements of the Knights, they will receive the seeds from them, ferment, and transmit the original Energy and give birth to the children of their elements, complementing Fire and Water, Yin and Yang, the bright flames with the dark seas, they are the mothers of their elements.




The princes are the sons of the Queens and the Knights, representing the airy side of their elements. The princes have the combined powers of their parents, they are the active issue of their union and its manifestation, they are the intellectual combinations of both. So for example the Prince of Swords is the airy side of the element Air i.e. the air in the world of Yetzirah, created by the Fire of Yetzirah and born in the waters of Yetzirah.
This might sound a bit complicated at first sight, but in the end has an almost simple logic that helps a lot to understand the cards.
Princes stand as Knights or Pages in other decks.



The princessess finally are the daughters of the Knights and the Queens, the earthly side of their elements. They represent - in short - the process that the numbered cards show going down from Kether to Malkuth, bringing the original spirit of each element down to the grounds of Assiah.

Crowley writes of the poor Princesses:

The Princesses have no Zodiacal attribution. Yet evidently they represent four types of human being. They are those numerous "elemental" people whom we recognize by their lack of all sense of responsibility, whose moral qualities seem to lack "bite". They are sub-divided according to planetary predominance. Such types have been repeatedly described in fiction. As Eliphaz Levi wrote: "The love of the Magus for such creatures is insensate, and may destroy him".

from tarot by danielle astrid ricard, you can click on the cards for their meaning,
and apparently a test on my bday on the site said im knight pentacles personality, i thought i was strength card as a leo.....and another one on the same site said wheel of fortune as essential card, desting card 7 wands..hrmm

The reason the personality card is assigned to the face card is....
Checkerboard: Indicates the many aspects and facets of your personality, the gamepieces.

[brifae]

Levels of the GD per wiki

The Order of the G∴D∴ (Golden Dawn)

Neophyte

(1°=10□): The title of this grade is derived from the Greek neophytos, meaning newly planted. The Neophyte grade is the first grade in which true initiation takes place, and the candidate is set in fertile spiritual soil in which to grow. The Neophyte is charged with the task of attaining "control of the nature and powers of [his] own being." This is prosecuted through the acquisition and use of the technique of Rising on the Planes, i.e. by acquiring perfect control of the Astral Plane. Initiation into the grade of Zelator is conferred after a minimum of eight months, through the ritual, titled The Passing through the Tuat. This grade corresponds to Malkuth on the Tree of Life.
Zelator

(2°=9□): The Zelator's main work is to achieve complete success in Asana and Pranayama. He also begins to study the formula of the Rosy Cross. The word "Zelator" probably stems from the Greek zealos, zeal. This is in reference to the energy-building asanas and pranayamas that characterise the main work of the grade. The Oath of the grade states the Zelator is to "obtain control of the foundations of [his] own being", a reference to the Sephirah Yesod, to which the grade is attributed. Advancement to Practicus is administrative only, requiring no initiatory ritual as such, and may be conferred at any time. This grade corresponds to Yesod on the Tree of Life.
Practicus

(3°=8□): A Practicus is expected to complete his intellectual training, and in particular to study the Qabalah. The grade title suggests the "practical" use of the skills acquired through the previous grades. The Practicus is prosecuted to "obtain control of the vacillations of [his] own being", which is to say that he must learn to control his own mind, and become one-pointed in thought, and so in word and action. Advancement to Philosophus, like the advancement to Practicus, is also a purely administrative process, and again may be conferred at any time. This grade corresponds to Hod on the Tree of Life.
Philosophus

(4°=7□): The Philosophus is expected to complete his moral training. He is tested in Devotion to the Order. In particular, this grade stresses the application of adorations to various deities, such as are outlined in Liber Astarte. The oath of the grade characterises this; the Philosophus resolves to "obtain control of the attractions and repulsions of my own being." This effort is primarily directed toward transcending one's likes and dislikes, deliberately defying one's morality, and so on. The aim is to break out of one's predefined idea of self, and reach a perfectly equanimous perspective. Advancement to Dominus Liminis is made at the perfection of this process, and may take place at any time, with no prescribed ritual. This grade corresponds to Netzach on the Tree of Life.
See also: Klesha and Sama
Dominus Liminis

(the link): The grade of Dominus Liminis is a "bridge" that connects the outer Order of the G∴D∴, centred in Yesod, with the Order of the R∴C∴, centred in Tiphareth. The work of the Dominus Liminis extends and refines the work of the previous grades, synthesising it into a coherent whole. The self-control of the Neophyte, the energy of the Zelator, the one-pointedness of the Practicus and the indifference of the Philosophus are fused together, and turned to the work of strengthening and refining the faculty of aspiration. Indeed, the oath of this grade is precisely this, to "obtain control of the aspirations of [one's] own being". The title "Dominus Liminis" means "Lord of the Threshold,"["Dominus" = Latin nominative case = "Lord;" "Liminis" = Latin genitive case = "of the Threshold"] a substitution for Mathers's Golden Dawn Grade "Lord of the Portal," the Portal or Threshold in question being a reference to the fact that the initiate is now passing from the Lesser Mysteries of the Outer Order of the GD to the Greater Mysteries of the Inner Order of the RC & AA.

There are 5 true grades, although masons have 12 official we have heard of higher degrees.
Or say the AA has 11/12. These are the ones I'm familiar with and applied to the chess peices or actually elements: earth, air fire water..and spirit, YHVH. YHSVH. However the zodiac or qaballah 11/12 is also used in some traditions as well/instead.

AA:
0=0: Probationer
1=10: Neophyte
2=9: Zelator
3=8: Practicus
4=7: Philosophus
Dominus Liminis Grade
5=6: Adeptus Minor

These grades have hand gestures that are used during ceremonial magic.

Grade Signs

The Enterer or Sign of Horus(0=0):
Stand with arms at sides Heels together, with feet at 45 degree angle Raise open hands to either side of the head at the level of the eyes Take a step forward with the left foot At the same time, extend arms as far forward as possible, still level with the eyes.

Silence or Sign of Harpocrates(0=0):
Heels together, with feet at 90 degree angle Left foot points forward Left arm hangs at side Right index finger or thumb is held to lips

Earth or Set Fighting (1=10):
Heels together, with feet at 45 degree angle Advance the right foot, pointing forward Right arm up and forward at 45 degree angle Left arm back and down at 45 degree angle

Air or Shu Supporting the Sky(2=9): Heels together, with feet at 45 degree angle Arms raised, elbows bent 90 degrees, forearms vertical Wrists bent as though holding up the sky

Water or Auramoth (3=8):
Heels together, with feet at 45 degree angle Place hands on lower torso, palms inward Index fingers and thumbs touch, forming a downward triangle

Fire or Thoum-aesh-neith(4=7):
Heels together, with feet at 45 degree angle Place hands at forehead, palms outward Index fingers and thumbs touch, forming an upward triangle

=drawing down the moon and triangle of manifestation.

[brifae]

The L .V. X . Signs (5=6)

+

Osiris Slain:
The Cross
Arms straight out at the sides to form a cross Heels together, with feet at 45 degree angle

L

The Mourning of Isis:
The Svastika.
Right arm forms points up with elbow square Left arm points down with elbow square Head looks down over the left shoulder with eyes following left forearm Feet point left Right foot is perched on it's ball with knee bent

V

Apophis and Typhon:
The Trident.
Raise arms above the head at an angle of 60 degrees to each other Throw head back Heels together, with feet at 45 degree angle standing slightly on the balls

X

Osiris Risen--
The Pentagram.
Arms cross, left over right, on the chest Head is bowed Heels together, with feet at 45 degree angle

[Celtaur]

in entertainment

[nventr]

Music is the science of the emotions. I'm not sure if that makes it the ultimate science.

The Greeks like Vulcans valued logic.

What meaning the rest of the piece has will be personal.

[brifae]

[brifae]

[nventr]

My take on the chess board vs. the checker board is that checkers is a game of black and white.

Good vs. evil. Life is just not like that. Very rarely, if ever, is anything all good or all bad.

Chess is a game archetypes. Each piece has specific moves and sometimes specific colors. The knights are the ones who have the most complicated set of rules. There is a white path bishop and a black path bishop for each side. In other words, the each side has a bishop that can move only on the black squares or white squares. A white path bishop can only take the other white path bishop. Same is true of the black path bishops.

Note that the queen has the most freedom. She can move anywhere and any number of spaces. She protects and saves the king. Yet, the game is not over until the king has been defeated.

Interesting symbolism.

[brifae]

yes nventr the black and white has to do more with the outer polarities on the tree of life, ying yang with the middle being grey tao.

I was reading a book on rune magic and i think the rune peorth pertho perthro P the game peice fits in nicely here
It symbolizes the runes itself, and of the seer/ seeker, chance, fate, sacrificial lots, divination, destiny, hidden aspects/secrecy, test, mystery
understanding, science, technology

if you note the top of a chess peice (or a curved checker) specifically rook looks like this, and the material altar is a shape of a double perth in the younger armanen futhark.
Aslo related to the material manifest as universe through its connection with the womb/fates and B birth begginning rune opened, or an isa I fixed material and two kens < knowing. Also is related to tarot card high priestess (noted black and white pillars) and saturn in death reversed and sex (games) and birth....
the runes were cast from a lot cup, cup representing womb......
saturn ruling material form, and this rune is also corresponded with the color black, unknown.
a game of warriors, the universe at play, cause and effect on the physical plane, as a "play" is a magickal act, can manifest/ pathwork. outcome of a situation.

[brifae]

just to expand, white could be kether and black binah, or even the white red black of the triple moon phase if you add the royal red carpet on the masonic checkered floor.