Any figure that is not 'of this world' alerts us to the possibilities of other dimensions of being, spiritually lifting us away from the mundane into other areas of consciousness. In that an astronaut moves among the stars but cannot do so without some sort of protective covering, we are alerted to the discipline and skill needed when working within spiritual and psychic realms. From a mundane perspective we perhaps need to recognize that before moving into the unknown we need skill and protection.