The Unseelie Court, the dark, unpredictable faction of the Scottish fae, aren’t known for their charm or kindness. Where the Seelie Court may offer light and blessings, the Unseelie ride through mist and shadow, stirring fear in the hearts of mortals. They represent the wild, raw forces of nature, and of our psyche, that cannot be controlled or smoothed over. The rage. The grief. The unhealed wounds. The inconvenient truths we bury.
And this is exactly what makes them such powerful allies for shadow work.
While most of us are taught to avoid what is uncomfortable, the Unseelie challenge us to turn toward it. They are the perfect faery guides for walking through the inner underworld, helping us unearth what we’ve hidden or denied, not to punish, but to empower.
This blog will introduce you to some key figures of the Unseelie Court, break down their symbolism, and offer journaling prompts to help you begin a dialogue with your own inner “Unseen.”
A Tale of the Slaugh – Riders of the Restless Dead
Among the most terrifying tales of the Unseelie is that of the Slaugh, a host of malevolent spirits said to be the souls of the damned, cursed to wander between worlds. These weren’t honoured ancestors or peaceful ghosts, but beings driven by pain, bitterness, and exile.
They would ride through the night sky like storm clouds, appearing as ragged shadows on the wind, hunting for souls to snatch or homes to curse. If someone was dying, windows were closed and prayers were whispered to keep the Slaugh away.
But dig a little deeper, and this tale begins to mirror our own unprocessed emotions. The Slaugh are the parts of us that have been rejected, grief left to rot, anger turned inward, stories we never got to complete.
In some Scottish traditions, people would still offer them respect, candles in the window, food left out on dark nights, or even whispered apologies. Because even the most cursed souls deserve acknowledgment.
What if our own shadow parts are not here to haunt us, but to be heard?
The Cailleach’s Kin – Nicnevin and the Witch Queen Archetype
Nicnevin, often described as the Queen of the Unseelie or a wild witch goddess, is a figure woven into the mists of Scottish folklore. She’s been linked to Samhain, the Wild Hunt, and even the Cailleach, though some tales place her in her own unique realm of night magic.
Riding through the sky on a black steed or in a chariot pulled by cats, Nicnevin leads a procession of fae, ghosts, and witches. To some, she is terrifying. To others, she is a guide of death, transition, and feminine power. She is said to walk between worlds, much like Hekate or the Morrígan.
What makes her powerful in shadow work is her refusal to sugar-coat. She calls us into radical honesty. She demands we stop pretending. She strips away illusions. Her medicine is fierce love, not because she’s cruel, but because she sees through all our masks.
Calling on Nicnevin in your shadow work may bring dreams, synchronicities, or strong emotional releases. Don’t fear it, trust that she is leading you toward your truth.
Symbolism & Shadow – The Hidden Lessons of the Unseelie
1. Chaos & Trickery
The Unseelie often disrupt order. They turn things upside down, create confusion, or reveal illusions. In shadow work, this teaches us that healing isn’t always tidy. Sometimes things must fall apart before we see what’s real.
Ask yourself: What am I trying to control or keep perfect that actually needs to unravel?
2. Exile & ‘Otherness’
The Unseelie are exiles, even from their own kin. They dwell in the liminal, often feared or hated. This mirrors the parts of ourselves we’ve pushed aside, maybe our anger, our sexuality, our intuition, or even our softness.
Ask yourself: Which part of me have I cast out in order to be accepted?
3. Night & Liminal Spaces
The Unseelie are active at dusk, in winter, at the turning points. Shadow work also happens in the thresholds: between knowing and not knowing, between identities, in grief or transition. These spaces are sacred.
Ask yourself: Where in my life am I currently ‘between’ things—and what wisdom lives there?
4. Fear as a Teacher
Many Unseelie spirits provoke fear, not for harm, but to show us something. Fear is often a signal that we’re nearing our truth. The Unseelie may appear frightening, but they can be powerful allies in facing what we avoid.
Ask yourself: What am I afraid to feel and what might be waiting for me on the other side?
Unseelie Archetypes in Modern Life
Working with these beings can help you identify which shadow archetype is showing up in your life:
~ The Outcast – Feels unworthy or unwanted. Often overcompensates or isolates.
~ The Wild One – Craves freedom but fears judgment. Can show up as rebellion or self-sabotage.
~ The Witch – Holds deep power but hides it for safety. May fear visibility or success.
~ The Trickster – Distracts, jokes, or derails when things get deep. May fear emotional vulnerability.
Each of these is part of us. And like the fae, they change depending on how we treat them, with dismissal or with curiosity.
Journaling Prompts: The Unseen Within
Choose one of these prompts each day this week or sit with the ones that stir a reaction in your body.
Unearthing What’s Been Buried
~ What truth about myself have I long avoided?
~ Who told me it was “too much” or “not enough”? What would I say to them now?
~ When was the last time I felt emotionally intense, and what did I do with that energy?
Meeting the Inner Unseelie
~ If one of the Unseelie showed up as a part of me, what would they look like? Say? Want?
~ What would change if I treated my shadow parts like kin instead of enemies?
~ What would it look like to honour the ‘dark’ parts of me as sacred?
Ritual & Reflection
~ What ritual could I create to welcome back a cast-out part of myself?
~ Where can I be more honest in my relationships, with others, or with myself?
~ If I could whisper one truth into the dark and be fully received, what would I say?
Simple Ritual: Candlelight for the Slaugh
If you’d like to begin working gently with these energies, try this on a stormy or quiet night:
~ Light a single candle at your window.
~ Sit quietly and breathe into your belly.
~ Say aloud: “To all that has been unseen, unloved, and unheard, I see you now.”
~ Journal, weep, or simply sit in stillness for 10 minutes.
~ Extinguish the candle with reverence.
This small act of remembrance can begin to soften even the wildest inner hauntings.
Beauty in the Broken Places
Scottish fae lore isn’t just spooky bedtime stories, it’s a deep mirror of psyche, ancestral memory, and soul work. The Unseelie Court may never feel safe but they will feel honest. And when we meet them with open eyes and brave hearts, they become not curses, but keys.
So let the wild wind ride. Let Nicnevin whisper in your dreams. Let your shadows speak.
You were never meant to live half-lit.
If the Unseelie stirred something in you today... trust that nudge.
Download your free ‘Shadow Work with the Fae’ journaling PDF and start building a ritual practice that honours your depth, not just your light. Get your free PDF here.