Tarot and Bats
Welcome to Season 12 of Every Day Tarot! This season, we’re exploring the sacred bond between the tarot and our animal allies.
Animals are ancient storytellers. They whisper truths about our intuition, reflecting our fears and desires, guiding us through cycles of change, and reminding us of the wild magic woven into the natural world.
In this episode, we talk about bats—mysterious and often misunderstood creatures of the night. They symbolize transition, awareness, and the courage to navigate the dark. Bats teach us that we can still move through uncertainty if we trust our intuition.
Let’s dig into their lore, their tarot appearances, and the lessons they bring when they show up in your life (or your deck!)
What we explore in this episode:
Bat symbolisms in myth and magic
How bat energy relates to certain tarot archetypes
The message of the bat: trust your senses and face the dark unknown
Bat Symbolism in Myth & Magic
Bats are sacred pollinators, voracious insect-eaters, seed-spreaders, and cave-dwellers. Across cultures, bats carry powerful and paradoxical symbolism. Like moths and owls, bats are nighttime messengers, carrying deep truths that can’t be seen in the daylight.
In Chinese folklore, they represent blessings, longevity, and happiness. In other traditions, they are guardians of ancestral memory, guides of the unconscious, and symbols of rebirth and transformation. In Western culture, they’ve been feared for their associations with death and the underworld, but this only emphasizes their connection to rebirth, metamorphosis, and the power of the unseen.
They’re often unfairly linked to fear and darkness, but their symbolism holds rich spiritual messages:
Renewal & energetic restoration
Deep intuition & clarity
Shadow work & facing the unconscious
Trusting inner truth over surface appearances
Decks referenced:
Anima Mundi Tarot Deck by Megan Wyreweden
Therapists Who Tarot Deck, Prompts by Dreya Blume, and Images by Rebecca Bloom
Tarot Cards Featuring Bat Energy:
While not common across all decks, rabbits appear in several key tarot archetypes—especially those grounded in the physical world. Their energy pops up symbolically, even when they’re not pictured directly.
Eight of Swords (Anima Mundi Tarot)
A flying fox bat hangs mid-air, caught in the illusion of entrapment. This card invites us to see how our own thoughts may be limiting our freedom, and how clarity begins when we turn inward.
The Devil (Therapist Tarot Deck)
With bat-like imagery, this card examines how we may be bound to patterns, grief, or habits that no longer serve us. It asks: What makes you sad? What is it time to grieve? What should you stop tolerating?
Wheel of Fortune (Desert Illuminations Tarot)
A bat appears among other creatures on the cosmic roulette wheel. This card reminds us that change is inevitable, and that adaptability and perception are our greatest allies.
The Hanged Man (Wild Unknown Tarot – symbolic reference)
Like a bat hanging upside down, this card represents perspective shifts, spiritual awakening, and surrender to mystery.
If you haven't listened to my other seasons yet, go check them out!
Season 1 - Tarot basics
Seasons 2 & 3 - Major Arcana and 4 suits
Season 4 - Tarot in Pop Culture
Season 5 - Tarot Spreads
Season 6 - Suit of Wands
Season 7 - Suit of Pentacles
Season 8 - Suit of Swords
Season 9 - Suit of Cups
Season 10 - Tarot and Witchcraft
Season 11 - Tarot and Plant Allies
💭 Today's Tarot Pull:
From It’s Grow Time oracle deck by Chantel Davis Gray, I pulled “I release what is no longer serving me. My energy is sacred.”
This affirmation is a perfect echo of bat wisdom. This reminds us that the shadow isn’t something to fear, but a space to shed, reflect, and renew. It invites us to honor our energy as sacred and release anything weighing us down.
Reflective prompts on this card:
What are you ready to release?
Where are you being called to rest and restore?
How can you trust your inner senses even in the dark?
A 12-Week Tarot for Transformation Journey
Starting in late August, join me for a 12-week live course based on Tarot for Transformation!
We’ll spend three months together, working through the major arcana as archetypal guides. Each week, we’ll:
Focus on one major arcana card and the life themes it highlights.
Explore journaling prompts and exercises from Dreya Blume’s book.
Share experiences and support each other in a safe, witchy, and affirming space.
Participate in live one-hour calls (with replays available if you can’t join live).
This is not just about learning tarot — it’s about using tarot as a vessel for real, meaningful change in your life.
If you've ever longed for a supportive community to explore big personal shifts, or if you’re ready to commit to discovering your most authentic self, this journey is for you.
You can sign up to receive more information (no FOMO!). We’re planning to begin at the end of August, so there’s plenty of time to get ready.
Ways to Connect & Support:
Get my Tarot Card Creation Workshop including the full hour long recording with my step by step method, examples of the tarot cards I’ve created, journaling questions, and PDF to walk you through it for just $33. Click here to purchase now!
Join my 12-week Tarot for Transformation Live course this summer where we will be deep diving into the Major Arcana to Discover Our Best Selves and Create a Life Worth Living. If you’re interested, sign up here for more information!
Patreon: For new moon readings, tarot Q&As, individual card pulls, and behind-the-scenes peeks, join the Every Day Tarot Patreon family.
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Book a Consultation: I’m a sex & relationships therapist working virtually across Washington. I specialize in helping queer, kinky, polyamorous, and witchy folks navigate anxiety, chronic illness, communication, and identity work. If you’re looking for a therapist and I seem like a good fit, please reach out and book a free consultation: camilleasaunders.com