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OUR STORY

The song about Molly Malone and her cockles and mussels is heard in Irish pubs around the world. But who was Molly, really? Erica O’Reilly imagines a tale of life and death, of real world work and otherworldly transformation.

OUR GUEST

As a sacred storyteller, spiritual counselor, and ordained minister (through the Sacred Stream Foundation in Berkeley, CA), Erica's work is rooted in creating spaces where souls feel seen, held, and heard.  

Erica’s life-long love for the arts and collaboration in community has taken her all over the world, including:  Ottawa, Toronto, Northern Ontario, New York, Italy, and Ireland.

Recently, her theater company, Into the Circle Theatre premiered its inaugural show (Stars, Stones, and Shadows: A Heroine’s Tale) at the 2023 Ottawa Fringe Festival to rave reviews.  

Into the Circle Theatre is passionately rooted in reverently honoring the tradition of the seanchaí in a modern context.  Through the inspirations and weaving of Irish culture, history, folklore, and mythology, the stories shared are hallowed tales of women re-membering and re-claiming their embodied wisdom and sovereign power.

Being of Irish and French ancestry, Erica is deeply grateful to the traditional spirits and land keepers of the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg People, where she was born and currently resides.

Find Erica at into-the-circle.com; on Substack, Weavings of the Wise & Embodied, and Instagram @wise.and.embodied

OUR CONVERSATION

• Erica’s experience of what it feels like to be what she calls a “sacred storyteller” 
• The idea of being a hollow bone for a story or character (some quick research suggests this is a Lakota tradition)
• Molly’s death journey - death in the Irish tradition including wakes, funerals, and keening
• Mná is Irish for “women” Mná feasa (wise women), mná chaointe (keening women), mná gluine (midwives), mná leigheas (medicine women)
• The washer woman and the energy of the bean sí (banshee) - scholar Patricia Lysaght talks of the banshee appearing to inform the community that death is coming; Erica imagines her as a guide for souls
• The tradition that warns people to never eat or drink anything when you enter in the fairy realm 
• Weaving story, voice, drum - Erica’s creative process and how it relies on a connection to the  
• Fite fuaite - the Irish for “inextricably interwoven”
• Imbas foronsnai - inspiration that illuminates or poetic inspiration

Our Music

Music at the start of the show is by Beth Sweeney and Billy Hardy: billyandbeth.com

Work With Marisa

• 1:1 Writing Coaching: If you are working on a spiritual memoir or wellness professional or a creative entrepreneur who wants to use stories to build your business, book a free consultation with Marisa. Learn more at