Queen Vashti, the king’s first wife, was considered to be the most beautiful woman in the empire. This is never disputed, even in the light of events that will soon transpire in the story. Esther will need moral courage for the days soon ahead, but she will also need another kind of courage as well: the belief that her beauty is a reflection of God’s inspired appeal. Esther lived in a world that judged women solely by appearance. If Esther believes in the standards of her time, and judges herself by them, she will not be able to do what lies ahead for her.
What was it that set Esther apart? Although we do not know how Mordecai allowed Esther to groom herself, we know her peers used cosmetics to increase their allure. Fats from animals such as lions and crocodiles were used as the base for cosmetics and perfumes, and it was believed that the strength and beauty of these animals would be passed along to the wearers. These fats, mixed with color, lined the eyes and lips, and were applied based on the premise that light always creates highlights and shadows. To be alluring as a woman, one must draw the eye to a good feature, and away from a lesser one.
The Jews say God created Esther with a different approach. Esther’s peers used cosmetics to manipulate the light around them. Yet, fashioned by God, in this story Esther would be the light. It is taught that women are illuminated internally by His power and strength. He has shaped them to His satisfaction. They are a reflection of the supernatural.
Queen Vashti was indeed considered the most beautiful woman in the empire. God would not have Esther challenge that in the days ahead. Instead, God would have Esther become the most powerful woman in the empire and a beloved woman of history. The Jews believe she was not created to embody the fashion of the times, but to reflect the majesty and providence of a God moving unseen through the world, even the forgotten world of women.
Join us on a journey of healing, of connecting to self and others, and of strengthening our intuition.
As in all Daughters of Light weekends, you will experience healing on all four P.E.M.S (physical, emotional, mental and spiritual) levels. This includes recognizing your strengths and how to stand in your power; and how to recognize and express your emotions in a healthy way.
As you examine the path on your personal journey, you will discover patterns of behavior that keep coming back. You will learn how to recognize these patterns, learn where they stem from, learn from them, and let them go. Some of the things we will address during the weekend include intuition, shame, boundaries, anger, grief, fear and clean communication.
Everyone learns differently and different things help different people, therefore this weekend includes multiple healing modalities in order to touch the lives of its participants in different ways. This weekend will focus on 3 elements: Healing: patterns of relational trauma, Connecting: to your intuition/soul, God and sisters, and Strengthening: your life mission.
This weekend is staffed by women who have weathered difficult times and yet their relationships continue to flourish.
Location Details
Exact location details will be provided by email once registration form and fee have been received. Along with the location, you will be provided with a list of what to bring with you.
Pre-weekend Preparation
Optional: Read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
What Is Included
Event price includes program, Tuesday night stay, Tuesday dinner, Wednesday breakfast and lunch, snacks and materials.
La Loba Retreat
Esther is being held the same week as La Loba. If you would like to register for both, a $100 discount is available.