The Laws of Spirit opens with the story of Dan Millman's encounter with a mountain sage in the wooded hills near his home. Through stories, tests, and experiences in the wild, the female elder challenges her apprentice to examine twelve core principles that underlie human existence: balance, choice, process, presence, compassion, faith, expectation, integrity, action, cycles, surrender, and unity. The book shows how these keys — at the heart of every religion, culture, and moral system — can lead to a deeper sense of meaning, connection, and harmony with the world. It also shows how the principles can transform relationships, careers, finance, and health. Quotations and reminders from across the centuries elevate and inspire readers as they accompany Millman on his journey.