Bats are among the most misunderstood animals. Many stories, movies, and myths describe them as dangerous and harmful creatures that can suck people’s blood and transform into Dracula. Because of this, bats began to get a bad rap. Although some people fear them, bats are beneficial to humans and the environment.
Native Americans recognized the bat as an animal that is highly sensitive to its surroundings, and therefore considered this animal to be a symbol of intuition, dream, and vision. When special energy was needed, the spirit of the bat was often invoked, such as “night vision”, which they called the ability to see through illusion. For the Native Americans, it is also the symbol of communication because they observed that bats are a very social creature. People believe that if you have a bat as a totem, you will be extremely aware of your surroundings and can sometimes be overly sensitive to the feelings of others.
In China, bats represent good luck, prosperity, and bring happiness or peace. In Japan, bats symbolize chaos, unrest, and unhappiness. The Scots believed that when flying bats go up and down, they do so by a witch’s house. The Finns also believed that when one is asleep, the soul takes the form of a bat. Early Christians believed that the devil turned into a bat to harass people. An Australian tribe also believes that killing bats will shorten your life. Some people even believe that wearing the right eye of a bat will make them invisible.
