The Bat Enters My Dream-Speak
25 Tuesday Sep 2012
Written by Nicole Rushin in Animal Totems, Dream Speak, Dreams, Mythology and Symbolism
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Dream-Speak \dreem-speek\ n. 1. The language used by a dream or a
dreamer to express the essence of a dream. 2. A forgotten language that
is often metaphorical in context or so simplistic it betrays our reasonable
thought processes. 3. A language used in poetry to arrest the attention of
a reader.
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Bitten~
.
~Dream Journaling
I dreamt I was approaching the ropes to our swing under the big Oak tree. I had the seat to the swing in my hand which I had taken off maybe to raise it or fix it. An acquaintance was there at the rope and it was my impression that he was there to help me affix the seat, but there was a bat on one of the ropes. He swatted at it and it flew towards me. I ducked and got down on the ground, but the bat bit me twice. I was thinking – I don’t want to die! But the bat told me in a clear voice, “I am not here to carry you into death. I am here to take you deeper into sleep.” I felt heavy and fearful. If I went there I feared I would not be able to get back out.
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~
I am slightly uncomfortable with bats around this house because the night before Reed’s wife passed away she was grazed on the neck by a bat. It was trapped in the house and had made its way up to the bedroom while they were sleeping.
Stories like this make me superstitious and fearful when I should be inviting the energy of an animal in. I have heard that birds trapped in your house are always a sign of death, but it is not always the case.
Superstition is when one person casts their fear upon another. Or one person takes on the fear of another’s story.
After my dream of being bitten I had to release my superstition of the bat. I had to understand what the bat meant to me.
~
The bat lives in the belly of the earth and is the only flying creature to suckle her young; a feminine symbol.
The bat could be the chiaroscuro of poetry if I could add light to her dark waxy wings, if I could add light to her seemingly ominous message. She is steeped in witchcraft and bad news. The squeaky hinge of twilight. In Western cultures they have been associated with the night and foreboding, but in Chinese lore the bat is a symbol of longevity and happiness.
In the Medicine Cards Deck the bat’s word is rebirth.
They come out in the gloaming, in twilight, the most magic moments in the length of a day. If there are doors and caves within the big Oak tree this is when they are opened and the things that sleep beneath, arise, surface and listen for the fluttering of moth wings.
The Bat, the cave dweller, the fire dwelling in the womb, a creature not dependent upon its eyes, but its sense of what feels right. Intuition.
In the daylight I can only find her with my eyes, but at night I can climb on her leathery wings. I can’t think of a better way to travel by dream than on bat wings.
But the trait that sticks out most to me is her ability to sense and notice things.
A bat’s sonar is so sensitive that it can detect the silent flapping of a moth’s wings.
She is blessed with the gift of noticing.
I often feel like the my best writing happens when I am opened to noticing.
~
You stood by the rambling rose, by the turning maple tree and asked me if I wanted more coffee. I said, ‘Yes,’ and watched the white fluff of a feather float past your face as you walked away… It fell weightless to the ground and landed in a tangle of weeds. You never noticed. But I always notice these things. I could feel you in the kitchen window as the steam of the coffee floated like creme around your face.
~
I’ve been bitten twice. Once as a writer and again as a dreamer.
What does the bat mean to you? Have you ever been bitten in a dream?
Nicole~
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18 comments
September 26, 2012 at 3:39 AM
Fascinating!
Never been bitten by a bat, but I have fond memories of them flying at night out of a huge tree in our garden when I was a kid, pinging as they went about their nocturnal business.
Something reassuring about their flyabouts and thinking about it our windows were always open.
We often used to sit out on a balcony on a hot summer evening trying to spot them …
So for me they do not evoke your “squeaky hinge of twilight” … (wonderful expression!)
September 26, 2012 at 10:16 AM
So they bring up your childhood memories. Very cool. A squeaky hinge of innocence maybe.
I like the Chinese Lore that they represent happiness and longevity. I definitely see them differently now.
N~
September 26, 2012 at 6:31 AM
Just wanted to let you know I’ve enjoyed visiting your new site!
September 26, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Hey Thanks Rick! I saw your blog a while back. Are you still posting on it?
N~
September 26, 2012 at 6:48 AM
The bat, transition and initiation, cycle of power nighttime. Oh how I love the totems constantly trying to give us insight to the paths we should take. If you have Ted Andrews animal speaks he gives you a fanscinating description of the bat and why they have entered our lives. Dreams have a way of telling us of changes that are long overdue.
When I dream (which is constantly) I know that there are three reasons, one fear of something deep within my mind trying to escape, something I have seen within the last three days playing like a rerun of a show or sitcom that I cannot forget or a truly psychic dream that shockes me into who, where or what has entered my life. Oh well I could go on and on about totems. So on that note have a good day and keep dreaming. It’s the food that feeds the soul of poetry. Paulette
September 26, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Hi Paulette,
I still have not bought the Ted Andrews book. It is on my list, though. I try not to go directly to outside sources when I am visited by animals. I try to understand them from my own experience first. I see animal totem books the same as dream dictionaries. I had one that I used for years. It was written by Tony Crisp. One day I just stopped using it and simply started querying the dream instead. The same source that will give me a dream will answer my questions. Of course, the interpretation of the answer it still up to me.
I like Robert Moss’ perspectives on dreams as he says that if an animals comes and speaks to us we only need to ask them what their message is. The best source is the animal itself. His view is that by over-analyzing a dream visitor we are reducing it and limiting its message. I don’t know what his term for this is, but I call it Dream Query or Querying the Dream.
N~
September 26, 2012 at 7:12 AM
Bitten? You kidding? I’ve been eaten alive, by monster bats and worse, frequently, in my boyhood dreams, waking up bathed in sweat. Didn’t take me long to start catching different dreams though, so the old ones had to find new homes. I pity the next one[s] they found, which at the time was the best I could do. From the “news” it’s obvious there’s much bad dream catching going on. I don’t think I’m being missed over there and even if, it would still be wrong.
Now the bats are among my fav animals to watch. There was a mind-blowing documentary on moths and bats on BBC a couple of years ago. Your post makes my wish to be bitten by a bat one of these days – well, almost. Just to witness my reaction. For all I know, I might bite back.
~Beat
September 26, 2012 at 10:29 AM
I usually tell people who have kids that dream vividly that it is a sign of their genius. And see – it was true with you.
And I do believe that you would bite back. This does not surprise me in the least.
N~
September 26, 2012 at 8:46 AM
First of all I simply LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your new site and the look – clean, crisp and inviting! Congratulations in all the hard work!
The BAT how interesting she is! Reed’s wife and the bat in the house is a sign of rebirth to me – she has been reborn to new life. A bat symbolizes only good in my book and for you to be bitten twice is amazing! Noticing – awareness, opening our eyes to life to love… what a beautiful dream you had my friend.
No I never been bitten in a dream thusfar but there are many dreams to be had. I have been dreaming these past few nights vividly and that makes me happy when I dream vivid dreams. I was with my girlfriend Karina last night – I must email her today!
Thank you for sharing!
In love and light,
Nancy
September 26, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Thanks Nancy,
Ann is having fun somewhere. At least three people have dreamt about her wearing some sort of Spanish clothing, like a poncho or something and in the dreams she is dancing and laughing and having a great time. We are lucky to have her spirit around us.
Feel free to share you dreams in the dream-speak group if you feel there is anything deeper to be gleamed from them.
N~
September 26, 2012 at 12:17 PM
I”ve never been afraid of bats. I’ve been intrigued by them and felt lucky enough to see one flit by on a dark night some years ago…I’ve always felt lucky when quick beings get close to me…birds, butterflies, bats…I feel like they must want to speak and how fortunate am I to be spoken to.
Today, as I ascended the stairs, my inner self whispered “deeper”. I’m being taken to a deeper place…a place of self-care first. For so many years I neglected myself, believing that if I could just get my business together…If I could just make and thus sell more of what people wanted…my inner self let me run fast, loose, and hard until I got tired and now it speaks…deeper. I asked the universe/god — How do you work? The response — You already know how I work. You see it all around you…
I resonate with your gift of noticing. I notice and from there I know. I don’t always know what I know, but when I notice, my insides tell me…This is the truth. The truth isn’t a particular saying or set of statements/intructions. The truth is in moments and noticing moments, gestures, words spoken or not…it really is a gift isn’t it?!
I love this 1000 times over Nicole.
September 26, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Thanks Jen, thanks for your wonderful thoughts.
I think you are right on with the self care thing. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself. I think we have to be able to go there and live in this space first, feel it, get it right, and then we can build the business. Creative businesses have to come from the heart first. They take time and gleaming and mulling and yes, self care.
I knew from the first time we connected that you were a noticer. You’ve been bitten. You have the mark. I loved your post today! I shared it on FB!
N~
September 26, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Hi Nicole,
Your site is fantastic. This post is really amazing. Have seen bats many times in the night at different places. Never was bitten by them. Its a great feeling being close to the nature and its exquisite creatures. Would like to read some more posts like these.
Regards,
Sanjib
September 26, 2012 at 12:51 PM
Thanks Sanjib,
Animal totems seem to be a popular topic lately. So glad you stopped by and left a comment. I’ll see what comes out of my dream hat for next week.
N~
September 27, 2012 at 9:22 PM
Congrats Nicole — the site looks great! So much more you now.
Weirdly today — I came around the corner as I was reaching the door to exit my guest house, and a bat flew straight at me and brushed my face and nose!! I’ve never had this happen before, and I thought I had to share this with you and re-read this post. Middle of the day, it was really strange!
I have no idea what it means, but I thought it was auspicious, and somehow synchronistic as so much has been lately with the fire of love group. Re-reading now.
September 27, 2012 at 10:12 PM
I am sending you an email to your gmail.
September 29, 2012 at 1:59 PM
The Mexican freetail bat has a position of honor here in Austin, Texas.
They live underneath the Ann Richards Bridge on Congress Avenue. Many line the avenue to watch thousands fly out at dusk. They are well liked because they keep the insect population at bay. The babies are called pups. Their waste is guano and it is used in cosmestics such as eyeliner.
Tim and I took a boat trip with another couple to see them up close. We went in October when it is cooler. Soon they fly back to Mexico for a warmer habitat then we offer. There is a Bat Festival each June. Many wear bat earrings and tee shirts. I bought a stuffed bat for our granddaughter.
I’ve never dreamed about bats. They must bring happiness to many. That’s the way I lke to think.
September 29, 2012 at 5:46 PM
I love this Charlotte! I would love to see the bat festival someday. I guess this was kind of the point of bringing this dream out – to remove the ominous characteristics that we put on them, or that I have held about them so they can be celebrated instead. They are really amazing creatures, mysterious and gifted with a sense we know nothing about.
N~