Bats

Bats are one of those animals who are disliked or even hated by some and loved by others. Most people who have an affinity towards bats or have an appreciation for them have more of an understanding about bats than the average person, and admire them for their important part in the ecosystem as well as their adorable features. Whether you feel a sense of disgust or admiration for bats, they are not only helpful for the environment, but they are a very helpful spirit animal to those who need guidance in their lives.

I just so happened to see a bat fly past me a few nights ago, pretty close to where I was sitting on the front porch where I live. It flew onto the porch underneath the roof, circled around by the front door, and briefly flew past me and my partner before going back into the night. For the past few nights while I've been moon gazing a few have come relatively close to me since then, and I've seen several of them flying around outside the house. 

The core message that came to me about Bat is acceptance. The meaning for acceptance can mean different things for different people, and can pertain to our past, our hardships, heavy emotions, self acceptance, and acceptance of others who are different from us. These last two forms of acceptance grab my attention the most, personally.

True acceptance comes down to accepting both the positive and the negative aspects in ourselves and others. Accepting and integrating the negative qualities of our humanity in a healthy way is a bit more difficult and maybe not even possible until we're ready, but the positive qualities are where the fun is and in my opinion this is a great place to start.

If it's not too much and you're at a point where it's practical for you, think of someone who triggers your wounds or negative emotions in you. They may have triggered an equal and opposite positive reaction in you at one point or another. Even if they haven't, try to think of one positive quality you can appreciate in them, genuinely. Something you really value or admire about them. Meditate on it for a few minutes. See how you feel.

Another message I received from Bat is about truths that are hidden from our awareness at first. Instead of this being about deception or failing to see a threat for what it is in the beginning, I feel this is more about not having a full understanding of a person or situation due to fear or some other form of resistance in the beginning, and later coming to a deeper understanding that leads to growth and resolution. 

Considering the bat's helpful and truly lovable nature, and how often it has been misunderstood as a pest or menace for such a long time, I think this is a parallel with its message. Hidden truths also parallel with the way bats exist in the world. Most of the time they aren't seen at all and they remain outside of our awareness until they suddenly start showing up on summer nights and grab our attention.

I hope you enjoyed this post and gained some valuable insights to assist you on your journey. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts or your own reflections about these topics.