Slua Sí Folklore: The Wind-Riding Host of the Dead

The Slua Sí - A Storm of the dead

The wind is something we all take for granted. A summer breeze cools our skin; a winter gale causes us to shut our windows and doors tight and stay within the warmth of our homes. We know the wind is there, but for the most part we give it little thought.

There are, however, some people and cultures who actively fear the wind and what it may bring with it.

Both Irish and Scottish folklore speak of an unsettling horde: a supernatural army that rides the skies at night, taking the form of a wild storm, particularly on the 31st of October - Halloween. It is a damned troupe, not mournful but predatory: the Slua Sí.

Slua Sí (pronounced sloo-ah shee), meaning Fairy Host, is the Irish name for this dreaded supernatural force. In Scottish Gaelic it is known as Sluagh na Marbh (pronounced SLOO-ah na MAR-uv), the Host of the Dead. The term Fairy Host is a confusing one, as the Slua Sí are not truly fairies. Rather, they are considered to be a terrifying host of the airborne spirits of the dead.

Perhaps a better rendering of the name - one that more accurately reflects how they are understood in legend - would be “The Host of the Unforgiven Dead.” For centuries it was believed that the evil souls of the restless departed were denied access to the Otherworld by the ancient gods. These malevolent entities found themselves trapped between the realms of the living and the dead, forever cursed, and only able to ride forth on those few occasions each year when the veil between worlds is thinnest.

The Slua Sí travel on the wind, sometimes in a crescent formation like a flock of dark birds, stark against the grey sky. At other times they appear as a violent storm or whirlwind, capable of carrying away any unfortunate soul wandering the Gaelic wilderness.

In bad weather, it is always wise to seek shelter - although where The Slua Sí are concerned even this offers no guarantee of protection. The terrible host was believed to steal gifted children from their beds, replacing them with sick or broken members of their own ranks who were no longer of any use. Those taken by this unnatural army were rarely, if ever, seen again, doomed to be trapped forever among the vicious horde.

There are ways to protect oneself from the Slua Sí. As is often the case with supernatural entities, they were said to be repelled by iron. Christian prayer and symbols, particularly the cross, were also believed to keep them at bay. Folk were advised to avoid lonely lanes and byways at night, and to secure all doors and windows when storms swept in - though, to be fair, most of us would do that anyway.

So as the wind rises and the trees shudder beneath the force of a gale, can you ever be truly certain that what you hear outside is merely a natural thing? Or could it be something far worse - something that might take not only your life, but your very soul?

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope this piece of folklore has left you trembling with just the right amount of pleasurable fear. If you enjoy my work, please consider picking up a copy of my new book, Threads of Shadow - links below.

Alternatively, there are plenty of free stories, written by yours truly, available in the download section of this website.

Until next week - stay spooky.

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Sources
Wikipedia
spookyisles.com/slua-sidhe-fairy-ireland
lairbhan.blogspot.com