This work, in 6 volumes, is a compendium of traditional cosmologies worldwide. The material includes the global mythology of creation and destruction, but also comprises information drawn from other areas of traditional knowledge, ritual, iconography, shamanism, costume, and dance. Relying on original sources, universal points of agreement are identified, often on counter-intuitive ideas. These suggest a single template, a blueprint for a universal mythology of origins.
In volume 4, the cosmos is seen to disintegrate through a number of catastrophic events. The cosmic axis is disrupted. The regions of the cosmos are freshly populated. Mythical beings depart from the earth and the mythical era is ended. The future is expected to bring a repetition of the past events of creation and destruction.