Skulls are shorthand for skeletons. Honestly, the skull and vertebrae are some of the most detailed and elegant bone structures. Vertebrae are so lovely that you can use them as jewelry, but they aren't as iconic as a skull! Anyway, the skeleton is something that grows within us all, supporting us and making us who we are. That something within us must be nurtured and kept or else it becomes weak. Even if it is broken and pained, it will continue to try to support us until the day we die. Thus, I see the skeleton as a symbol of inner strength and all those things that silently make us stronger. Care for them, and they will care for you!

Also yes, I am aware of the alternate "life is fleeting" skull symbol thing. My qualms about that? Bones and teeth are some of the last things to decay. That's not the best option for a "fleeting" thing. More of a "remembering after death," honestly.

Bats are seriously maligned for looking spooky and spreading disease. The reason people get sick from bats is because they keep going in their caves and messing with their feces ("guano"). If people keep out of their caves and leave them alone, there is very little risk of a bat ever making anyone sick!

What do bats really do? Protect us. Literally. Bats eat insects, which eat our crops and spread diseases a whole lot more readily than a bat ever could. Bats protect us from bugs by eating them. Bats that drink nectar pollenate avocados, agave, bananas, and thousands of other plants. This protects us from hunger. Bats also protect each other. They share food, warn each other of predators, and mother bats even wrap their wings around their babies and give them hugs!

Bats are symbolic of protection and prosperity, not just to me, but to lots of people all over the world. All over Asia, you find carvings, paintings, and even jewelry of bats all in hopes that the owner will be safe and prosperous. The bat is also seen as a warrior woman in some native American tribes. She ventures fearlessly into the night head first and singing. She knows her sisters will back her up no matter what happens and is not afraid of the dark. We should do the same: be brave, support each other, and dive in headlong and singing.

The moon is shorthand for the night. Night is one of the most important things in the world. The world would dry out and die under full sunlight all the time. Also, if it was always sunny, how would you even know without the night to show you another way of being? The night allows for cooling and rest for all living things, animal and plant alike. Nocturnal animals often have daytime cousins; they just look different because they adapted to the dark. For example, moths are literally night butterflies. They aren't vermin at all! I also strongly disagree with anyone who says the moon is a feminine thing. We all need rest and reflection. There are moon gods as well as moon goddesses. The night is for everyone.

To me, the night represents healing and needful contrast. We all go through stages and phases in our lives, but that's all it is: a stage, a phase. A bad time is never the end, nor is it all bad. If we never had bad days, then how would we know the good ones? A good time should not be taken for granted. Enjoy it, but plan ahead wisely. Also, remember that not even life lasts forever. Respect others and yourself, both past and present, and do the best you can to make the world around you better in your wake. Yes, the night is my "life is fleeting" symbol. A much better fit than skulls, I think.

People aren't scared of gingers, tabbies and calico cats. They are all just cats. But people are scared of black cats. Why? Others say they're unlucky, evil, wrong. But really, it's just a cat of a different color. It's no different than any other kitty. If you can get past a few surface things, you just might make a new best friend. By the way, in the UK black cats are actually good luck. You want a black cat to cross your path so you will be lucky!

All this is strikingly similar to being weird. I'm the black cat in a room full of colorful kitties. In the correct company I am appreciated and loved. Sadly, most of America just can't get past appearances. I have had plenty of people freak out, judging me without knowing a thing about me past their preconceptions. It's a shame. Also, for some reason, people keep telling me I bring them good luck. I wonder if it's true?