Hoyt Richards recounts how, in 1978, he met Frederick von Mierers, a self-proclaimed guru preaching a seductive gospel of Eastern philosophy, astrology, and New Age spirituality. To the outside world, Hoyt was a successful, jet-setting model, but at the same time, he lived an ascetic life while espousing Frederick's teachings and funding much of his lifestyle. 

The group splinters and eventually dwindles in North Carolina. As 1999 approaches, Hoyt grows skeptical and escapes to California where he grapples with the shame and regret of recruiting others while hurting his own family, as he reconnects and reflects on his experiences with former members.