I was recently reminded of my bat totem when I visited the local zoo. I was drawn to the bat exhibit almost like a bee to the hive. I know many of you probably think that bats are just down right creepy, but actually they are a very important part of our eco-system. But, that isn’t why you are here reading this post. You are searching for the meaning of the bat totem. So, let’s talk about that.
Brother Bat is the symbol of rebirth. The Mayans, Aztecs, and Toltecs had a special secret ritual for the initiate Shaman, who would be put through a symbolic death. The old ways of life and personal identity would be buried away so that the new Shaman could be reborn into his new life. Any former ego was dead to the world.
The symbolism of a bat hanging upside down gives the message of one learning to transpose our former self into a newborn being. It is much like an unborn child that assumes the position of being upside down as it enters the world from its mother’s womb.
Bats in the Belfry Greeting Card by strangeling at Zazzle
Even as a child I have had this interest and respect for Brother Bat. Some might have thought that I had “bats in my belfry” or was just a little crazy in the head. It didn’t really bother me because there was this inner knowing that I had a connection with the bat. I didn’t understand then that Brother Bat is one of my personal power totems. When I first discovered which totems walk with me on this journey, seeing Brother Bat there did not surprise me at all.
When Bat Totem works with us there is a symbolic need for a ritualistic death of some kind. I know that when Bat surfaces from the dark in my life that it is time for me to look at what is in my life that no longer suits a new growth pattern that I am entering. It might mean that I need to let go of some old habit that is hindering that growth. Bat comes almost like a beacon signalling a time for rebirth. We need to let the old ways of doing things or thinking die away so that the new can be born into us.
If we resist this part of our destined journey, we find that the way is long and drawn out. It can make the necessary death of old ways and thoughts much more painful. When bat totem shows itself we must have the courage to “die the Shaman’s” ceremonial death and move forward into a new way of thinking or start new life patterns. The old ego must be buried away symbolically to allow the “new” us to surface.
That may sound a little creepy and certainly a little scary but Brother Bat reminds us that this renewal of ourselves is important and has to happen for us to grow into our destined path.
~Mitakuye Oyasin~ We are all related
Can anyone explain to me what my dream was for this dream ive never had and all of my dreams and always vivid.
This last night, i dreamt of a few witches and celebrities and s3xual beings. But then i embark onto a shopping mall and inside was alot of celebrities and spa cosmetics and one of the stores had cosmetics and old drums with drum skins for sale and a man cashier/associate. I went to the corner cuss i seen something move, it was a bat and her babies. But the man comes over to narrate what was happening and it was very vivid and not for eyes to see this. The poor bat mom her babies were in the fold of her skin emerging out the strongest would cut the sibling out after the next and these bats were fully developed and had horns that would have to be cut out by their siblings help. The mom was depeleted from this excruciating birth pain. Her whole body was depleted and she passed b4 the full birthing of the babies could happen😷. I woke up from this part and was distraught 😫 i cleansed my room with sage and lit a white candel, prayed to god any idea what this means!?
First it was the Squirrel and now the Bat – I think there’s some very strong messages coming through to you at the moment Bev.
One of the biggest lessons I learned in life was from Feng Shui. There the principles can be applied to “clearing out clutter”. We hoard and hoard and then there’s no room for new things. I have found so many times that if I clear out my clutter, as in take a look at what I am crowding my life with and let some of it go, it makes room for things that have been waiting to happen.
Hope that makes sense 🙂
Yep, I think I might be “blind as a bat” if these messages weren’t getting through to me. Obviously the Universe is telling me to get rid of some things that are cluttering up my spirit. I heard Squirrel but then Bat comes in and reminds me that I can hang on to them a little longer if I want but I’m just holding myself back.