buyirí Kati (Bat Moon)

Jamaican Fruit Bat

The Full Moon for April is the Bat Moon on April 23rd.

The Jamaican fruit bat ranges from southern Mexico southward to northwestern South America (west Colombia, west Ecuador and northwest Peru). It also lives on the islands of Trinidad, Tobago, Greater and Lesser Antilles and the Florida Keys.

This species is found in a variety of habitats. It prefers habitats that are humid and tropical but has also adapted to cloud forests and drier tropical habitats.[7] Fruit bats roost in caves, hollow trees, dense foliage, buildings and leaf tents.[8] The fruit bat may create its own "tent" to roost in by altering broad leaves.[8]These "tents" are only temporarily used.

In late March or early April, females give birth to a single pup. Following a gestation period of no more that 4 months, females give birth to another pup around late July or early August.  On rare occasions, females give birth to twins. Research suggests that this pattern of delayed development synchronizes the birth of young with the end of the dry season, which allows weaning to occur when large fruits are at peak availability.
Like all mammals, mothers provision and protect young while carrying them in the womb and continues until weaning. Prior to learning how to fly, pups are carried by their mothers while they forage for food.

Jamaican fruit-eating bats use echolocation as their primary means of orientation. Olfaction (smell) and sight are also used to detect food. Although many bats emit sound pulses orally, Artibeus jamaicensis emits sound pulses through its noseleaf while its mouth is closed (similar to humming). One researcher described the noseleaf of Jamaican fruit-eating bats as "an acoustic lens that focuses the outgoing sound into a narrow beam." Jamaican fruit-eating bats are often called "whisper bats" because they emit very low intensity sounds. These sounds provide short range information on the location of food in densely vegetated areas. Pups use rapidly repeated long and short notes (i.e., "double notes") to assist in reuniting with their mothers in densely populated caves. Jamaican Fruit-Eating bats produce warning calls when captured in mist nets, which attract conspecifics (members of same species) as well as additional species. Jamaican fruit-eating bats respond to other species' alarm calls as well. Distress calls also warn conspecifics of approaching predators.
Jamaican Fruit Bat plays an important role in the dispersal of seeds of many tropical fruits. Additionally, it disperses seeds crucial for secondary and successional growth in areas disturbed by natural disasters, which helps restore forests following disturbance and helps maintain plant species richness. It is possible that some species depend on the uneaten remains of discarded fruit. One research team described the foraging habits of Artibeus as "a continuous rain of fruit and bat excrement throughout much of the night and with sunrise came herds of aggressive local pigs to gather the night's fallout of figs." Because A. jamaicensis sometimes consumes nectar and pollen, it likely helps pollinate many Neotropical plant species.

Spiritual Significance

Our Ancestors taught, and we believe that the souls of the dead took the form of animals and moved freely among the living in the night. The bat and the owl are very important symbols in Taíno mythology and death. For us, the bat represented the opías. Fruit-eating bats such as Artibeus jamaicensis love dining on guavas, which is also the favorite food of the  spirits of the dead.

The Bat is sacred to us and we learn even more of the bat medicine here, its connection to maternal energy, to the plants and replenishing the earth, to community, to sacred sound , to high sense of perception, to the end of seasons / cycles.

With this Bat Moon we know the Rainy season is on the horizon, coming of the abundance, end of the dry times .

MEDITATION
This Full Moon is about awareness, moving through darkness, inviting the new season of abundance, connecting with your inner guidance.
I encourage practicing a simple ceremony below to help connect with this moment:

1. Create Sacred Space - Call on your ancestors, your guides, the ways your ancestors would have. Ask them to help focus your mind and heart to the task at hand, so you may be prepared to show yourself worthy for all that you seek, to attract the energy necessary to manifest your desire with the coming seasons of abundance.

2. With your eyes close while standing or sitting on a chair, with your right hand tap on your heart with your fingertips, as if mimicking your heart beat .. 

3. As you tap visualise your inner cave and allow your guides to navigate you through that darkness, step by step into the light of abundance with a wonderful fruit filled forest.

4. While in the forest ask your guides to share with you what is the lesson that is most necessary for you with this full moon that you must carry to your waking state.

5.When you feel in your heart it is time give them thanks for their guidance and the energy given to you. 

energy is present 2 days before and 2 days after the Full moon so you have time to practice.