Interpretation of "Valley"

Question:

I am studying The Quest with a group at my church. I would like to know the general interpretation of valley. I know that mountain means to rise in consciousness but I haven't found valley. Thank you so much!

Comment:

If mountain suggests an elevated consciousness, then I think valley suggests the lower levels of consciousness at which so many people live so much of their lives. I think perhaps we come into a human experience over the “mountain” of birth—and at that elevation we are well aware of our spiritual truth and our spiritual purpose. We descend into the valley of human consciousness with the intention of being an agent of spiritual transformation, bringing “mountain” consciousness with us. All too often we forget the spiritual awareness we arrived with. And so life becomes a series of challenges and journeys intended to lift our consciousness back to another mountain perspective, so that we can remember the spiritual truth we've forgotten, and then take it back with us into valley consciousness, trying to hold to spiritual awareness in the face of distractions and illusions.   That's how it seems to me, at any rate. Your own intuitive sense of what valley suggests is every bit as valid.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed