Down" is used many different ways, and its spiritual meaning in the Bible is highly dependent on context. Phrases like "bowing down," "lying down" and "falling down" are defined primarily by "bowing," "lying" and "falling"; there is also a great difference between a person descending, the Lord sending fire from heaven and someone handling an object, to offer a few examples. In a very general sense, though, "down" indicates a lowering from more internal spiritual states to more external ones. That's why the journey is described as going "down" to Egypt from Canaan, and people from all quarters go "up" to Jerusalem. It's also why the Lord comes "down" to us, which generally indicates a state of judgment.

9736. 'And the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar' means the power of the good from which truth springs, and that of the truth which springs from the good. This is clear from the meaning of 'the poles' as power, as immediately above; and from the meaning of 'the two sides' as the good from which truth springs, and the truth that springs from the good, thus a marriage of good to truth and of truth to good. The reason for this is that things on the right side in a human being have connection with the good from which truth springs, and those on the left side with the truth that springs from the good, see 9604, and that by their being joined together the marriage of good and truth is therefore meant, 9495. So it is then that like things are meant by 'the sides of the altar' where the poles went; for all representatives on the natural level resemble the human form and have the same meaning as the parts of it they resemble, 9496.