42 - Bat - Rebirth - Contrary

42

Bat - Contrary

Re-birth

Sacred Bat . . .  flew to me,

From the darkness of the cave.

Wound like reflections,

Answers it gave.

Birth, death, rebirth,

Cycles of the whole.

Never-ending,

Just eclipsed, 

Journey of the soul.

If Bat is still hanging upside-down in the cave and immersed in darkness, you have met its contrary medicine. 

This position leads to stagnation of the spirit and a refusal to acknowledge your true destiny - which is always to use the talents you have to the

fullest. 

Is there some area of your life that has dammed up and therefore stopped your desire to create? 

If so, look at surrendering to the death of that stagnation.

Bat can also imply that in the reversal of your natural cycle of rebirth you are trying to go at life in a backwards mode. 

This is a breech birth, in a sense. 

This type of occluded understanding of how to go about freeing yourself can lead to a stillbirth if you

struggle too long in the birth canal. 

The final outcome can be death of the body. 

Some people think themselves into a corner with obstacles that are illusionary. 

By the time they decide what to do, the opportunities are gone and old age is upon them. 

All of their dreams have passed them by. 

Reversed Bat says to use your mind, courage, and strength to insure an easy labor and quick delivery into your new state of understanding and growth. 

Surrender to the new life you have created from thought and desire, and bravely greet that dawn.

If you are concerned with today and tomorrow but not much further, you may forget to see further down the road. 

Tribal teachings say that you are responsible for

future generations because you are the ancestors of the future. 

Whatever you do today will affect the next seven generations. 

Every decision, every thought, is to create a state of stagnation or rebirth for those that follow you on the Good Red Road. 

If you are blocking yourself, you may be blocking the generations to come.

Bat flies at night, and in the night are born your dreams. 

These are the dreams that build future civilizations, so nourish them well.

Overview:

The bat is an animal steeped in mystery, and one which arouses unease in some humans because it is related to darkness and the unknown. 

Some are afraid of it, perhaps because of its association in horror movies with the supernatural and with ritualistic death.

The bat lives in a cave or a dark place; this is symbolic of the womb, and the animal's position hanging upside down parallels that of the unborn self, immersed in darkness. 

To encounter Bat as a power animal, therefore, signifies the process of initiation - the ending of an old way of life and a rebirthing into a new life pattern. 

Bat is there to help you to let go of old habits and a previous way of life, and to face a new dawn. 

You cannot make progress by hanging on tightly to the very things that are holding you back. 

So, confront your fears head on, and they will flee from you.

Bat is there to help you see in the darkness and to find your way to a new understanding. 

Face your fears.

Be flexible. 

Prepare for rebirth. 

The time is now, the power is you.

Source: 

Sams, Jamie and Carson, David. 

Medicine Cards 

Santa Fe: Bear and Company, 1988