The queens or watery forces of the elements never clash with one another, but ever undulate onwards, each in its own course unaffected by opposing or crossing waves. But the watery forces only move in their respective preordained courses; they cannot leave their limits and enter upon the domain of others. Water, like fire, is unarrested and undulating, and like air and earth it can act diagonally or square-wise, containing the potential force of air and earth. They are the queen of the tarot, and Binah. They are the Aimah, and are of Briah.
The bishops are subtle and sharp, airy in quality, moving rapidly, but easily arrested in their course. They clash not with opposing bishops, and the friendly airs support each other in attack and defence. Where the active airs whirl the passives cannot come. They are the forces of the princes, and of Yetzirah, the Son.
The rooks are the heavy resisting powers of the princess, the earth by nature, mighty indeed in action when preceded by the action of the other three. That is, when in any matter the forces of fire, water, and air have been absorbed and equilibriated, i.e., removed from the board, the mighty powers of the castles come into play. But woe to him who too early calls these ponderous forces forth.
The rook moves through columns as through ranks. She is able, therefore, to reach every square on the board, and is very powerful. But her movement is very ponderous, and it is a piece that is not moved many times in a game unless the forces of the other elements have been absorbed in its working out. While the Aleph, Mem, and Shin forces are in full operation, the rook is easily attacked and with difficulty defended, unless she remain quiet, and act as a firm basis of support and defence to the side. If she, however, makes the mistake of entering early into action she is nearly sure to fall prey to the more subtle forces whose proper sphere is attacked.
If the more subtle forces do not bring about a solution of the question, and the matter has to be fought out to the bitter end, that is, if the Yetziratic and Briatic forces are absorbed and balanced in the matter, then do the ponderous forces of Assiah, the Princess, engage in powerful combat.
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The Golden Dawn Page 96