The Hit List - I’ll scratch your bat if you scratch mine

Many years ago, I was heading out the door for a walk with my husband. It was a gorgeous summer day – the perfect kind where it’s not too hot or humid. Even though I’m not a fan of that time of the year, it was too beautiful to sit inside.

As we rounded the corner to the front of the house, I noticed the mailman had already come and gone. If you know me, you also know I’m obsessed with getting the mail. So of course, I wanted to see what I got before we went off on our stroll.

Oddly, I noticed there was something stuck to the side of the mailbox. It looked like a fuzzy gray milkweed pod. We get milkweed around these parts but it’s usually green…and not growing out of the side of mailboxes. For some reason I still don’t understand, I decided to touch it.

That wasn’t fuzz…it was fur! Suddenly, the pod opened up, spread out an impressive set of wings, and hissed. That was no plant – it was a tiny gray bat!

Needless to say, I didn’t stick around to learn more about this critter (I promptly named him Batty). I was too freaked out and worried about getting bit – or ending up with him in my hair like old myths I heard. (Side note: I did not think about the possibility of becoming a vampire.)

The mail would have to wait.

Isn’t it funny how something so small could strike such fear? Of course, this isn’t totally irrational. After all, bats do carry rabies – and I haven’t had a tetanus shot in who knows how long.

But despite the fear, I also remember the soft fuzz on his belly and how much it felt like my cat’s tummy. This little guy just wanted to sleep in a safe place until my mail-loving ass came along and ruined it all. I scared him as much as he scared me. I ponder this from time to time. I don’t think I’m particularly “scary,” but to a wee mammal, I guess I’m pretty frightening (my kids think I’m terrifying, too). Each one of us can appear in so many different ways to each person or critter we encounter. Like this bat, we can be creepy or cute ‘n fuzzy. Sometimes we can control that impression…but other times, not.

The next time you encounter a bat taking a nap, consider how they can be both soft and spooky. Just like you.

Cats versus bats!

Other stuff:

Lisa Stardust asked me and a whole bunch of other metaphysical practitioners about our fave crystals: These 17 Crystals Will Help Bring More Self-Love Into Your Life.

Super interesting post about the author behind “Goodnight Moon” over at the New Yorker: Margaret Wise Brown constantly pushed boundaries—in her life and in her art.

A harrowing post over at Men Yell At Me: That’s How It Works When You’re a Woman on the Internet.

This is such bullshit: She was told she could vote again after felony convictions. Now she’s in prison for trying.

Watch out: 7 Yellow Flags To Look Out For In A New Relationship, According To Experts.

Haha: The Best Gifts for Each Astrology Sign on Valentine’s Day.

Now I want to go to Cleveland: A Discovery of the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick.

DO IT: Congressional Workers Union Announce Union Drive, With Speaker Pelosi’s Blessing.

So, How Is It Really? Being In A Unionized Workplace.

From The Cut: Standing Your Ground While Black.

Good read: Scandal on a Wealthy Island: A Priest, a Murder, and a Mystery.

No to Noom: Noom, The Toxic Weight-Loss App That Claims Not To Be A Dieting Program, Is Being Called Out On Twitter.

Michelle Tea is over at NPR: Tarot can’t predict the future, but it can help you make that big decision.

From djenneba drammeh: Here’s How Each Zodiac Sign Can Best Protect Their Mental Health This Year, Directly From An Astrology Expert.

How sweet: A Meteorologist Brought Her Baby on Air for the Weather Forecast.

I preordered this book: How to Be A Woman Online: Surviving Abuse and Harassment, and How to Fight Back. If you’re a woman, you might want to get it too.

This looks intriguing: The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life.

I fantasize about an organized fridge like this: Fridge Love: Organize Your Refrigerator for a Healthier, Happier Life―with 100 Recipes.

Delicious looking stuff: The Modern Proper: Simple Dinners for Every Day (A Cookbook).

Necessary: Good Housekeeping Home Skills: Master Your Domain with Practical Solutions to Everyday Challenges.

I CANNOT wait for Mat Auryn’s next book: Mastering Magick: A Course in Spellcasting for the Psychic Witch.

Defo want to check this out: The Healing Power of African-American Spirituality: A Celebration of Ancestor Worship, Herbs and Hoodoo, Ritual and Conjure.

Damien Echols and Lorri Davis have a book coming out soon: Ritual: An Essential Grimoire.

Get your preorders ready: Create Your Own Tarot Cards: A step-by-step guide to designing a unique and personalized tarot deck.

If you want to get your kids off the screen, get ’em a copy of Tarot For Kids.

Intuition and tarot go together like peanut butter and marshmallow fluff! Learn how to combine these delicious skills with Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading, my manual for learning intuitive tarot reading.

If you prefer to listen to your tarot lessons, I’ve got ya covered: Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading is available as an audiobook.

Astrology doesn’t have to be dry or boring. Astrology for Real Life: A Workbook for Beginners (A No B.S. Guide for the Astro-Curious) makes learning astrology fun!

If you’re hunting for a new tarot deck, let me recommend this one: The Uncommon Tarot: A Contemporary Reimagining of an Ancient Oracle.

The Tarot Coloring Book has been delighting folks for years. It’s a peaceful, relaxing way to learn tarot!

The world can seem dark but Tarot For Troubled Times brings light.

Coming soon: Twist Your Fate: Manifest Success with Astrology and Tarot. This is book number eight! Yay!

Classes

Calling all Tarot beginners! If you’re a newbie—and barely know anything about Tarot—this class is for you: Tarot For Beginners Live Video Workshop. A four-part series to get you started reading with confidence!

Join my Patreon Community! I am serving up extended card of the day interpretations, astrological tidbits, community tarot practice, political astrology, early sneak peeks to horoscopes, Hot Dates…and more. Higher tiers get access to live classes, replays of previous classes, mentoring, and more.