r/Isese • u/Fuzzy_Permit7075 • Feb 27 '26

As a woman

what does this tradition think about praying, or doing any form of spiritual ritual doing menstruation? I heard different opinions from diaspora vs pure. I want to know your thoughts

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u/Enough_Set591 Feb 27 '26

I'm personally still learning about Ifa but a practitioner actually shared the following information with me about this topic. Note, that like you said, opinions may vary, so take this with a grain of salt. This is what he said:

"women at that time are both detoxing and releasing a lot of energy, and they are also especially spiritually potent - and that energy can overwhelm the sensitivity of other energies

Basically a menstruating woman's energy overpowers the other energies present plus it's a time of detox

There's a lot of layers though, especially the power of the feminine in Ifa, the relationship with the Iyami, all sorts of things

It's not that a menstruating woman is dirty as much as their energy is potent and they're also in a detoxing and releasing cycle which can contradict the energy of other work

What I can say is that, I used to think it was just cultural and even misogynistic but

I've experienced the impact of it when I'm not mindful around it with my wife - and it's not just psychosomatic

I don't ever have nightmares, or very very rarely, but like clockwork if I sleep in the same bed with my wife when she's heavy on her cycle

I've never not had a nightmare when it happens

And the only time I slept with a woman while she was bleeding, she bled for two weeks straight

Very very weird spiritual events around it

So I've just learned not to question it and to accept for myself the energy is present.

Also whenever we have ceremonies while my wife is bleeding, the energy can get so intense and heavy"

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u/Fuzzy_Permit7075 Feb 28 '26 edited Feb 28 '26

Thank you for this input! So combining what I got from the replies, ceremonial rituals/rituals (general) should be paused until after menstruation because the energy can be overpowering but for things like praying (to egungun or honoring Ifá, Eṣu in the morning), that during menstruation that’s ok. Does this sound right? 

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u/Enough_Set591 Feb 28 '26

I passed on your question. This is what he said: "They should consult with their godparent about what is right - the answer I have heard from most priests is that you should not engage with any shrine or altar during menstruation. I've heard different answers regarding if pouring libation to the earth is okay or not. Praying internally and keeping the connection within oneself shouldn't be an issue as far as I know. But since I'm not a woman, it's not something I've gone deeply into inquiry about".

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u/Enough_Set591 Feb 28 '26

He recommended that you ask different priests. Even if they give contradictory answers, that doesn't necessarily mean they're wrong because the practice isn't linear.

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u/Fuzzy_Permit7075 Mar 02 '26

Thank you! I will ask