The holy Zohar writes that Purim is like Yom Kippur meaning that they both have the same spiritual illumination.
In the book Kav Hayashar (written by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kaidnover) he writes a Segulah (spiritual remedy) that is guaranteed to work which should be done at the crack of dawn on the morning of the Fast of Esther (Wednesday morning this year):
You should arise at the crack of dawn (See Jewish calendar for time) Wash your hands (Netilat Yadayim) put a coin in charity (you can add to that if you want) and light two (Neshama) 26 hour candles one in honor of queen Esther and the other in honor of Mordechai.
After lighting the candles you should recite Psalm 22 “For the conductor, on the ayeleth hashachar” (morning star). Some recommend saying it 7 times. Then pray that the merit of Mordechai and Esther should stand on your behalf to bring the salvation you need.
Some important points to consider:
- We get up at the crack of dawn because Esther was called the morning star and the time of dawn is auspicious for nullifying bad decrees.
- It’s preferable to give silvery toned coins to charity if you can as opposed to gold toned coins since according to Kabbalah silver is the color of kindness and gold is the color of judgment (and also reminds G-d of the Golden Calf)
- In Rabbi Nachman of Breslov’s Likkutei Halchot (Anthology of laws) it’s best to give the charity with both hands and first give one coin and then the rest.
- For the duration of Purim day it’s good to give charity to the poor and you should give to anyone who asks.
- It is a proper practice to recite the entire Book of Psalms and to concentrate on the final redemption of Israel in the way of Purim where everything became reversed from bad to good. In that same manner should all the evil decrees upon us be nullified on this day.
“This day is very auspicious for the acceptance of our prayers in the merit of Mordechai and Esther and anyone who needs mercy for something he needs should pray and take the time for himself during the Fast of Esther and first say Psalm 22., as our sages interpreted that Esther was called the “Morning Star”. Afterwards he should pour his heart out before G-d and make his request mentioning the merit of Mordechai and Esther that in their merit G-d should answer his prayers, open the heavenly gates of mercy and willfully grant his request.”
1) For the conductor, on the ayeleth hashachar, a song of David. 2) My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? [You are] far from my salvation [and] from the words of my moaning. 3) My God, I call out by day and You do not reply, and at night I do not keep silent. 4) But You are holy; You await the praises of Israel. 5) Our ancestors trusted in You; they trusted and You rescued them. 6) They cried out to You and they escaped; they trusted in You and they were not shamed. 7) But I am a worm and not a man; a reproach of man, despised by peoples. 8) All who see me will mock me; they will open their lips, they will shake their head. 9) One should cast his trust upon the Lord, and He will rescue him; He will save him because He delights in him. 10) For You drew me from the womb; You made me secure on my mother's breasts. 11) Upon You, I was cast from birth; from my mother's womb You are my God. 12) Do not distance Yourself from me, for distress is near; for there is none to help. 13) Great bulls have surrounded me; the mighty ones of Bashan encompassed me. 14) They opened their mouth against me [like] a tearing, roaring lion. 15) I was spilled like water, and all my bones were separated; my heart was like wax, melting within my innards. 16) My strength became dried out like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my palate; and You set me down in the dust of death. 17) For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me, like a lion, my hands and feet. 18) I tell about all my bones. They look and gloat over me. 19) They share my garments among themselves and cast lots for my raiment. 20) But You, O Lord, do not distance Yourself; my strength, hasten to my assistance. 21) Save my soul from the sword, my only one from the grip of the dog. 22) Save me from the lion's mouth, as from the horns of the wild oxen You answered me. 23) I will tell Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You. 24) You who fear the Lord, praise Him; all the seed of Jacob, honor Him, and fear Him, all the seed of Israel. 25) For He has neither despised nor abhorred the cry of the poor, neither has He hidden His countenance from him; and when he cried out to Him, He hearkened. 26) Because of You is my praise in the great congregation; I pay my vows in the presence of those who fear Him. 27) The humble shall eat and be sated; they shall praise the Lord, those who seek him; your hearts shall live forever. 28) All the ends of the earth shall remember and return to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall prostrate themselves before You. 29) For the kingship is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations. 30) They shall eat all the best of the earth and prostrate themselves; before Him shall all those who descend to the dust kneel, and He will not quicken his soul. 31) The seed that worships Him; it shall be told to the generation concerning the Lord. 32) They shall come and tell His righteousness to the newborn people, that which He has done.
English translation from Chabad.org, Judaica Press
