Vashti Refuses

During a drunken feast, the King commands Queen Vashti to display her beauty before the men of the kingdom. Vashti refuses, and as punishment, she is exiled from the palace. Famously, she’s followed by Queen Esther – but here we focus on Vashti, and her decision to choose her dignity over her queenship.

Is dressing up for others a source of power and pleasure, or a way of hiding our true selves? What can we learn from Vashti about living authentically and refusing to conform? How can she help us follow our inner voice, even when it means letting go of privilege?