Lower Self: Animal Nature
The lower self has an animal-like nature. It is selfish, and primarily concerned with comfort, security, food, money, and sex. It is basically responsible for keeping one alive, and when one is ill, it is active in the process of recovery. However, it is not interested in awakening, but rather opposed to awakening, which means loss of control to the Higher Self.
The bull is a symbol for the instinctive, animal-like characteristics of the lower self. If we are not controlling the bull, we are being controlled by it.
From an outward point of view man is an animal.
But he is an animal of a different order from all other animals.
-- Gurdjieff
Back, you, lowing ox. Your head is in the hand of Horus;
your tail is in the hand of Isis.
-- Egyptian Pyramid Text
So long as the soul is in a state contrary to nature, running wild
with the weeds and thorns of sensual pleasure, it is a dwelling-place
of grotesque beasts... for all these animals signify
the various shameful passions.
-- Theodorus the Great Ascetic
When the spirit of heaven rules in man, his animal nature
takes its appropriate place.
-- I Ching
The junior demon shook himself and changed into an aged Taoist.
He could be compared to the Taoist riding a buffalo.
-- Journey to the West
