Today we’d like to introduce you to Estelle Thibodeau.
Hi Estelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Twenty years ago, I opened a Cafe in a little historic downtown. The Cafe had coffee, beer, wine, food, books, music, and chess. Things that I loved. I placed several chess sets throughout the cafe. I set the pieces out, not knowing the rules; the white on the right, the Queen on her own color, or even how to play. I watched those chess sets draw the attention of nearly everyone that came into the Cafe. I contemplated the universal beauty in them. People began to play chess on a regular basis. A loyal customer brought in a very large Aztec set, and I put this large set in the window where it could be seen from the street. Another loyal customer, a man with thick blacked rimmed glasses and a sort of bashful, awkward stance, and (also one of our classic rock band singers) asked if he could have his chess club there. I was delighted to have them. And when a varying array of the male species of all ages came each week to play chess with their teacher aka Chess Master, electric guitar player; I began to observe with admiration and a sort of apprehension, how the pieces moved. The Chess club was intimidating to me. While I was grateful to host them, I refused to ever participate. I was hooked on my innate fascination and instead of running the risk of appearing dimwitted, I marveled over my growing collection of chess sets and started reading books on the history of chess.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I closed my cafe years later to move to St. Augustine, I began to play chess with a dear friend of mine. I began to carry a chess set with me in public places; the park, a bar, a cafe, the street, and the pavilion. I learned from observation, that when a stranger sits across from you to play a game of chess, they are either nervous or overconfident. I often caught myself, to the benefit I found in small talk, assessing the nature of my opponent, because, more often than not, I felt a deep unknowing that rang like fear; the master from Japan, the student pilot, the Russian God who planted himself so certain across from me. I’d putter with my pieces, set them just right with slightly trembling fingers. Chess terrified me. Confidence can be an asset, or, the mark of an adolescent, a mistake, an unstable virtue. I equally can affect the opposition just by appearing certain, which I on occasion am… I am certain, however, that certainty is appealing to our human nature. Contemplation is a thing of beauty and yet, the King cannot be overwhelmed by beauty, for patience boasts in silent pride to the greater thing within: the strategic manner of equal merit of wit between two willing participants engaged in a game of unrated Chess.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have always been intrigued by people. From early on, I wanted to be a psychologist. However, healing, to me comes from various belief systems. I have studied world religion and cultures. Ultimately, having been a host to thousands of people from the café I opened, to setting up events in my homes throughout my life, I have gained an insight into what happiness is. I became an ordained minister in 2017. I am also a Tarot reader and have been doing readings for twenty years. The tarot is also based on belief. I have studied the Tarot in relation to the Bible and how God gives examples in Genesis of the first seven days of creation, and how we as humans have the ability to create the absolute greatest good in our lives. In this, I found a link between contemplation in chess and prayer. and Tarot, and how being empowered to make the best choices for one’s self is the best thing one can do. I began the Cheesy Chess Club at a pizza place in St. Augustine in 2018 to play casual, unrated, over-the-board chess. It started with just a few players. I found most compelling and beneficial to the unrated humans the interaction between them. So long as there is a board between you and I, it is the board that maintains a sturdy common ground. In September of last year, we began playing chess at The Cheba Hut on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine each Wednesday from September through May. Each week, we are engaged in casual over-the-board chess, made properly complete with delicious food and drinks, music, conversation, laughter, contemplation, connection, and love of the chess pieces we carry with us.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Perhaps some things have been over-saturated in regards to what we are as humans. Now we know that we are made of energy, molecules, and tiny particles that cannot be destroyed, it all appears quite radicle, a vast idea that we sensationalize on one hand and dismiss with the other. Lots of trends pop up and people want to believe, but they don’t. Perhaps there are too many things going far too fast and we have gotten too big for our own britches. Being overwhelmed by chaos is what we have created. Add to that the despairing reality that humans destroy goodness, well that’s in the Bible as well. What is also there, and this is the great redeeming quality of the human race, are small acts of kindness. Martha providing a bite to eat, Mary washing the feet of Jesus with her hair and the sip of water to a thirsty mouth. This is happening all around us as well. Acts of Kindness. And this is evident in our media with stars like Lady Gagga’s “Born this way” and kindness campaigns popping up. There is plenty more Goodness to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://theseventhroot.org
Image Credits
Estelle Thibodeau
Jack Veitinger
