As Autumn pulls her shades down earlier each evening, and Darkness moves in to the rooming house of our souls, mere mortals would be wise to ally themselves with creatures who rule the night. For centuries, Vampire Bats have terrified villagers in South America where they are actually found, and in European towns where they hunt only in the dank caves of the collective imagination. Yet bats rarely harm humans, and they are the ultimate teachers of embracing the darkess.
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Greater Horseshoe Bat[/caption]
They can sense heat with their noses, have infrared sensors in their eyes to see all movement, and hang from roots or rafters, peacefully upside down. They demonstrate how to: turn on our under-utilized senses, use our intuition, and look at all things from different perspectives. While the details may not always make much sense to them, they see shapes and sense blood: this simplicity aids in their survival. They emulate seeing the big picture, and tending to the life force, rather than getting hung up in unimportant matters.
Bats are the only flying mammals that live entirely on blood. Blood is the life force of the animal kingdom, and the most powerful symbol of immortality. Those who wish for a long life, or even to feel more vibrant and alive, should consider adopting the Vamp Bat as their totem. Bats never kill when they feed. These black-caped creatures are more like party crashers at cocktail hour. When their is scarcity in the food supply, a recently fed bat will share the plasma with a hungry friend through french (or Pennsylvanian!) kissing. This reminds us—albeit in a Halloweenish way— that unconditional love is about sharing ourselves with others in need.
Bats tend to be communal, and may live with thousands of others. Even when the Season of Shadows overtakes us, we are never alone. Appreciating that fact and honoring our friends and family should be the focus of this season: a time when preserving our resources and sharing with others makes for smart survival, and is the key to true happiness.
