What is the Spiritual Meaning of Bats?

Bats are mysterious nocturnal creatures who represent transformation, rebirth, and intuition. Some cultures consider them spiritual messengers between worlds. Come on a journey to explore bats' spiritual and cultural meanings while discovering whether it’s good or bad luck to see a bat. You’ll also find information on bat dreams and how to know when bats are your spirit animals.

Spiritual Meaning of Bats: Quick Overview

Bats are symbols of transformation and intuition and are seen as messengers between physical and spiritual realms. They can also represent good luck and prosperity, transformation, and rebirth. Bats are associated with dark forces in the Western world, but they remind us to let go of old habits to have freedom from fear.

Section 1 of 8:

What is the spiritual meaning of bats?

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The bat inspires you to come to terms with any transformation you’re experiencing. They are symbols that can guide you through the cycle of change, whether in an external situation or your inner self. Rebirth cannot happen without death, but death can mean moving away from an old way or behavior to a new one and having faith in this decision. Transition and transformation are impossible without embracing change, so look to the bat for a reason to let go of fear.^{[1]
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Intuition Bats are masters of trusting their inner knowing. They use echolocation in the dark when they need to find food, which means they rely on sounds to assess where they are. As a spiritual emblem, bats can prompt you to be quiet and listen to your inner self. Trust what you’re feeling and what you need to do next.
- Turn off your devices, take a walk, and think clearly about how you feel. You’ll be better able to make decisions about your work, a relationship, or your life’s path.^{[2]
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Darkness Bats are nocturnal and serve as a reminder to face your fears. Don’t retreat from any shadows in your life, but instead look at them head-on. Bats also show you that it’s possible to find comfort in the mysterious or unknown. The times when you might perceive darkness in your life are the perfect opportunity to embrace introspection and personal growth. You can make time for yourself, see a counselor or therapist, or rely on friends and family to help guide you through whenever you need it. ^{[3]
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- For centuries, bats have been linked to vampires from European folklore to the most famous vampire story of all—Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In nature, vampire bats do feed on blood (but aren’t bloodsuckers), while most other species do not.^{[4]
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Spiritual messengers In many cultures, bats are seen as spiritual guides between the world of light with the world of darkness. They can encourage you to get in touch with your spiritual side with the knowledge that you can be guided through to something better. Just as bats travel between the world of the living and the dead, you can move between worlds and emerge a better version of yourself.
- Explore a new style of meditation or religious practice, give yourself time to connect to nature, or work on a personal project that will transport you to a new place in your spiritual life.^{[5]
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Section 2 of 8:

What does seeing a bat mean?

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Let go of old ways to make way for the new. Bats represent the cycles of life and death, so seeing one can remind you to stop clinging to old habits. Embrace whatever new cycle is coming so you can best welcome transformation and change into your life. Try to start a new habit, like writing in a journal or following through on your to-do list for the week.^{[6]
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- Bats appearing in your home mean a period of transformation and growth. Seeing them around your house can help you recognize how to follow your intuition so change and new beginnings can find you.^{[7]
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Move beyond fear and face the unknown. Bats are associated with the night and darkness, which make them a representation of courage. They fly into the darkness using their intuition and amazing hearing to know where they’re going. If you see a bat, try to face your own fears and inner darkness, you too can find reserves you never knew you had. This way, you’ll come out the other side a whole new person.^{[8]
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Seeing a bat during the day means a major change is coming. It’s a time to listen to your inner self and be open to change. It’s also rare to spot a bat during daytime, so consider yourself lucky to see a creature often thought of as a spiritual messenger.^{[9]
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Research source} Seeing a bat at night is about being open to the unknown and not being afraid of the darkness you find there. Bats can show you to further trust in yourself, your courage, and your journey.
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The number of bats you see can change their meaning. Seeing 1 bat indicates good fortune, longevity, and luck. Spotting two bats means balance and harmony, possibly in a relationship. In Chinese culture, 5 bats are associated with the 5 Chinese blessings: long life, wealth, honor, health, and passing away naturally.^{[10]
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Section 3 of 8:

Are bats good or bad omens?

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Bats can be considered good or bad omens depending on the culture. Bats are linked to dark forces and evil spirits in Western culture but are thought of as bringers of good fortune in Chinese culture. They are primarily symbols of transformation, rebirth, and intuition. Even if you associate bats with death, it can mean the death of an old way of thinking to make room for a new one.

Section 4 of 8:

Cultural & Religious Symbolism

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Christianity In the Bible, bats are associated with vermin and are considered unclean bringers of bad luck. They are also not thought of as fit to consume as food. In other Christian lore, bats are aligned with darkness, night, evil, demons, and Satan.^{[11]
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- Bats have long been linked to witchcraft, which is evident in the story of Lady Jacaume, a 13th-century French noblewoman who was executed by burning because a large number of bats would visit her garden to eat insects.^{[12]
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Native American The Navajo tradition views bats as messengers who can travel between worlds. In one story, the goddess called Changing Woman wished to give a gift to the god of winter; the bat was the only animal fearless enough to complete this task. Bats are seen as important guardians who can deliver such gifts and messages to us from other realms.^{[13]
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- In the Ojibwe tribe, the bat was created when a squirrel freed the sun from being tangled in the trees. In doing so, the squirrel burned himself so it turned black. The squirrel was rewarded with wings so it could fly, which is how bats got their wings.^{[14]
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Greek & Roman Ancient Greeks thought of bats as special birds that could fly to the underworld and back. In Greek myth, a maiden called Alcithoe and her sisters refused to attend one of Dionysus’s parties, so he turned them into bats and birds. In the Odyssey, bats appeared as creatures that carried the souls of the dead to the underworld.^{[15]
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Celtic Celtic mythology links bats with faeries, spirits, and superstition. It was considered an omen of death if a woman had a bat tangled in her hair. The story of Tehi Tegi is about a sorceress on horseback who led 600 men into a river that drowned them. After their death, her horse transformed into a dolphin, and she into a bat.^{[16]
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Norse The Norse and other Scandinavian cultures viewed bats as supernatural creatures who could foresee death. Bats could hypnotize people to do their bidding and were nathbakkæ in Old Danish, meaning “night flapper.”^{[17]
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African A Nigerian folk tale tells of how a trickster bat convinced a bush rat to jump into a pot of soup he prepared, which caused his death. All the animals turned against the bat, which explains why they only come out at night. In Tanzania, an evil spirit named Popobowa (meaning “bat wing” was a shapeshifter who attacked people at night; the shadow he cast looked like the wings of a bat. In Sierra Leone, a bat was responsible for creating the night by dropping a basket of darkness the creator gave him to take to the moon.^{[19]
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Chinese In China, bats brought good fortune, prosperity, and abundance. They are associated with good tidings like luck, happiness, longevity, and wisdom. A group of 5 bats is called a wufu which brings 5 blessings: longevity, wealth, health, acts of service to others, and reaching old age.^{[20]
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- Some Chinese artwork depicts a bat biting a coin as a good luck symbol. They also appear in Chinese works of art alongside peaches, which symbolize longevity and vitality. In Feng Shui, it’s thought that putting bat decor in your doorway welcomes happiness, abundance, and vitality.
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Mayan Ancient Mayans thought of bats as fertility symbols that protected their crops. They’re also one of the Mayan zodiac signs, as well as spiritual messengers, shapeshifters, and even deities. Camazotz was a Mayan bat god whose name meant “death bat.” He was associated with the underworld, the night, sacrifice, and death.^{[21]
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Mesopotamian The Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia associated bats with a group of demons called edimmu. These vengeful wind demons were the spirits of those not buried properly who could suck the life from people as they slept. They could only be pacified by properly burying those who had died.^{[22]
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Australian Aborigine The Kulin aboriginal people of Australia tell the story of Balayang, a Bat God and brother to Bunjil, the great eagle. In the tale, Balaynang refused to live with Bunjil, so Bunjil and Hawk set fire to Balayang’s land, This is said to explain a bat's black color.^{[23]
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Polynesian In Samoa and Tonga, the bat is regarded as a sacred flying fox. They have a story about a princess named Leutogi who nurses an injured baby bat to health but is blamed for bringing bad luck to her people. The bats then save her from being burned at the stake for being a witch and eventually bring fruit and flowers to the islands where she was exiled.^{[24]
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Hinduism In Hindu mythology, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is associated with bats. This connection symbolizes community, longevity, balance, and the supernatural. It’s a reminder to balance the elements of material wealth, community, and spiritual well-being in your life.^{[25]
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Aesop's Fable Bats appear unable to take sides in an Aesop fable called The Bat, Birds, and the Beasts. In the story, a bat pretends to be a rodent when birds are around and pretends to be a bird when rodents are nearby. Because the bat refuses to take sides, the animals turn against it, which explains why bats come out at night. ^{[26]
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Section 5 of 8:

Bat Color Spiritual Meanings

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Black Black bats represent mystery and darkness. They’re the most commonly associated type of bat, and can stand for the unknown that you may currently fear. Black bats are also linked to darker forces or bad omens in Western European traditions. They can inspire you to let go of those fears, embrace what you don’t know, and seek change.
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Brown Brown bats stand for grounding and are associated with the earth. Brown bats are also quite common and serve as a reminder to stay grounded on your spiritual path. Take time to care for your own well-being as you meet your next challenge. This can include simple everyday things like reading a book by yourself, taking a walk in the park, or taking a relaxing bath.
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White White bats are symbols of purity. They’re thought of as a spiritual messenger and a protective creature. Consider white bats a beacon of light you can focus on while you’re trying to achieve spiritual growth. White bats relate to protection, which you’ll need for yourself as you reach your spiritual goals.

Section 6 of 8:

Dreaming of a Bat Meanings

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Dreaming about a bat often speaks to untapped potential. Your struggle to realize your full potential can relate back to fears about going for what you want. Your dream about bats can teach you that anything is possible when you believe in yourself and move forward without fear. Ahead are some specific bat dream scenarios with unique meanings all their own.^{[27]
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- Flying bats: Make your way towards the light, or lighter aspects of your life.
- Attacked by bats: Negative energy surrounds you that needs to be dealt with.
- Bat hanging upside down: Your point-of-view is off kilter and you require balance.
- Bats in groups: Relates to your feelings about those close to your social circle.
- Friendly bats: Points to a positive home environment.
- Dead bats: Walk away from conflict to achieve transformation.
- Blind bats: Pay attention to life’s problems.
- Killing bats: You’re hurting someone close to you.
- Baby bats: Try to recognize your hidden talents or psychic abilities.^{[28]
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Section 7 of 8:

How to Know if a Bat is Your Spirit Animal

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Feeling a connection to bats can mean they’re your spirit animal. You may notice bats all of a sudden, whether in life, artwork, or decoration. Did you open a book directly to a page about bats? Have you noticed more than one person with a bat tattoo or dreamed about bats? When you try to find your spirit animal, you experience a bond with them you can’t explain.^{[29]
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- As your spirit animal, bats inspire you to embrace change and transformation. They’re known as spiritual messengers who can show you the way through the darkness and into the light. Leave your fear behind and dive deeper into your connection to bats. Visualize them when you meditate or gather bat imagery to encourage your journey to change.
- Trust your intuition and allow it to help you break free from old patterns of emotion or behavior you have. Bats are associated with meeting your fears face to face and moving through them. Take a chance with a class in spirituality, learn a new skill, or meet new people who can also inspire you in your transformational process.

Section 8 of 8:

Bat Spiritual Meaning FAQs

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If you notice a bat flying close to you, it could signal a spiritual message since bats are often thought of as spiritual guides. You may be about to encounter a transformative part of your life journey, so embrace change. Pay attention to your personal growth and development so you can experience renewal.
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Can bats be a sign of protection? In most traditions, white bats are considered a sign of protection. They’re rare but can signal protection in times of change when things are in flux. White bats are linked to purity and enlightenment and can inspire you on your journey to trust in the spiritual world.^{[30]
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Bats are associated with evil and the devil in Western traditions, especially because they’re prevalent during autumn when Halloween occurs. During the original Celtic holiday of Samhain, the Celts built bonfires that attracted bats. This cemented the belief that bats were the spirits of the dead who the Celts could ward off with their divine fire. The coming of Christianity also contributed to the tradition of associating bats with witchcraft, evil, and the underworld.^{[31]
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