I love the bats who live in the woods around my house. One of my favorite things is watching in late spring for the first flight of bats, as they wake from hibernation.
And now, in high summer, I love sitting on the porch and watching as they fly out of the woods and over the house as twilight deepens. There are evidently enough dead trees in the woods that they have lots of housing.
As swallows and other birds are going down for the night, the bats begin to swirl and dart through the sky. They are much more erratic in flight than other air-borne creatures – and their wings move in a more bent and angled way, so they are easy to spot in the darkening day.
So quick they are – and they look totally playful, though we know they are intent on dinner.
In the Medicine Cards they are Rebirth, becoming one’s real self after letting go of all those limiting beliefs. In Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak, bats are about transition and initiation. Nighttime is definitely more magical with bats about!