Transcendence and Collective Psychology

This book - a sequel to 2022’s acclaimed Storytelling and Collective Psychology - explores the arcane terrains where science, psychology, and spirituality meet, from mystical theology to UFOs, psychedelics, and near-death experiences. At the heart of the book is the work of Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar and Christian mystic whose contemplative wisdom bridges sacred traditions with modern life. Rohr’s insights into non-duality, metaphor, and cosmic consciousness provide the tools to navigate transcendence with openness and discernment. From there, Kelsey leads readers into wider case studies - encounters with the UFO phenomenon, the psychedelic renaissance, and transformative near-death experiences - each revealing how transcendental urges shape both individual lives and collective psychology. Through case studies of cosmic encounters, visionary substances, and transformative experiences of death and rebirth, Kelsey shows that transcendence is not peripheral to human life but fundamental to it. Written as the second volume in a trilogy on collective psychology, this book is an invitation to seekers and sceptics alike: to embrace awe, mystery, and imagination as vital forces for personal transformation and collective flourishing.