The author presents an exploration of the psyche informed by his several decades of research and work with non-ordinary states of consciousness. Grof exposes the different levels of the unconscious, incorporating the biographical, perinatal, and transpersonal dimensions in an innovative way for Western psychology, informed by contributions from Freud, Rank, Reich, and Jung, among others.

Later, Grof delves into the understanding of perinatal dynamics and the influence they have on different forms of psychopathology and psychosomatic disorders, as well as on the emergence of violence. The book addresses “edge” themes of Transpersonal Psychology, such as spirituality, religion, astrology, and the transformation of collective consciousness.