The only mammal that truly flies and not just glides, is the bat. By defying gravity and navigating with a heightened audio sensitivity, the bat has become a symbol of transformation, intuition, and clairaudient abilities. Because bats are highly social animals living together in colonies, they are also a symbol of adaptability and survival.
A bat tattoo is a potentially powerful symbol, appropriate for those whose intuition plays a major part in their lives. It encourages exploring that which is not easily seen, or which is hidden beneath the surface, or by the dark of night. All excellent qualities by the way, for a superhero like Batman. And with the advent of the Dark Knight, 'bat cave' has taken on a whole new meaning within popular culture. The batwing symbol of Batman, even more so.
In some parts of the world, the bat is a good luck emblem. In China, it signifies longevity and happiness. For many Native American people, the bat is a trickster spirit. For the people of Tonga of the South Pacific it is a sacred animal, and in West African legend the bat is a symbol of a soul in flight. In Mayan mythology, the bat is associated with death and the deities of the underworld. In heraldry, it is a victory symbol, as it is on the coat of arms for the Spanish city of Valencia, where, according to legend, the Spanish king was victorious in battle with the Saracens through the intervention of the bat.
