[Summary] In his book “Adventure of Self-Discovery,” Stanislav Grof offers a comprehensive exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness, primarily as experienced through psychedelic therapy and holotropic breathwork. Grof argues that traditional models of the psyche, limited to biography and the individual unconscious, are insufficient to understand the full range of human experience. He proposes a broader model that includes perinatal and transpersonal domains, arguing that experiences in these realms offer transformative potential for healing, personal growth, and spiritual exploration. The text explores various types of transpersonal experiences, including those involving transcendence of spatial boundaries, identification with other beings (including plants and animals), past life memories, encounters with archetypes and deities, and experiences of the cosmic creative force. Grof advocates for the therapeutic value of these experiences, both in addressing psychological and psychosomatic issues and in facilitating a deeper understanding of existence.
