The monk can depict the focusing of your energies toward self searching, toward a wider awareness, what is generally called the spiritual path. But it sometimes reveals a drive in oneself toward flight from the pain in dealing with the normal sexual urges, relationship and survival in the economic and social whirlpool of life.
One of the great problems if our life is directed or governed in any degree by this figure is that if the natural drives toward sex and partnership are not followed, their frustration can easily lead to neurosis.
History shows us examples of both the energy of the inward life turned toward enormous industry and awareness such as we see in the building of monasteries, the teaching, healing and caring worldwide; and of it turned to neurosis. In the latter situation we have the extremes of mutilation, self harming, sexual perversions and depression.
The positive direction of the fundamental libido leads to a gradual letting go of the instincts that drive you to be dependent for your identity on sex and material wealth and goods. This arises not through a denial of self but through a realisation of your core self. The result is liberation from the bonds of the basic instincts, territorialism and racial identification
Useful questions are:
How do I relate to this archetypal influence?
Do I seek refuge from everyday life and relationships, or am I asking the grand question – Who am I?
Have I grown beyond sexual and worldly needs in some degree, or am I avoiding them because I am afraid or hurt by them?
What happens if I ask important questions of my mentor – can I get answers?
