Joseph Campbell was a professor of mythology, speaker and prolific writer who applied Jungian theory to his study of mythology and added his own perspective in the realm of spirituality and human potential.
He believed that all religions, at their core, sought the same elemental life force from which everything came, within which everything currently exists, and into which everything will return. Although this cannot be expressed in words, spiritual rituals and stories refer to the force through the use of "metaphors"—these metaphors being the various stories, deities, and objects of spirituality we see in the world.

Asimov got me started on my love of the science fiction genre when I was quite young. In particular, his Foundation Series and the concept of "psychohistory" stoked my imagination for evolution of humanity and beyond. I just heard that a television series is finally coming out based on these books so this will definitely be a pandemic binge event for me.

The founder of analytical psychology, pioneered work involving the unconscious mind. He recognized the connection between dreams, art, mythology and spirituality over the course of human history. One of Jung’s most intriguing discoveries was the “collective unconscious” which is the part of the unconscious mind in all of us, shared by all humanity. The symbols and archetypes stimulated by this part of the psyche are the product of ancestral experience and are found not only in dream imagery but in mythology and religion throughout the ages. The collective unconscious is also known as "a reservoir of the experiences of our species."

The Dune books enthralled me when I discovered them decades ago. And I realize now that Willow's path is not unlike Paul Atreides'. Both have gifts that lead them down dangerous and unplanned heroes' journeys with destinies that will shape the future world.

Like millions of others, I was captivated by The Clan of the Cave Bear and the ensuing books in Auel's Earth's Children series. Although it may seem to be in the opposite direction of futuristic sci-fi, it feels to be in the same wheelhouse to me. Extrapolating on bits of evidence about our prehistory to tell such a riveting story was amazing.

My mother told me the story of a young boy from India who'd been discovered by leaders of a religious group. They found him as a child and recognized something great, an aura unlike any other, and so he was groomed to be their future leader, their world teacher, or as some might say: their 'chosen one'. He joined their order and followed their teachings but eventually turned his back on them when he came of age. He spent his life as a world teacher and brought great wisdom to the world but not in the way his mentors had imagined.

Diamond is a historian, anthropologist and author. In particular, Guns, Germs and Steel gave interesting insights into how humans developed in different areas of the world, giving some an advantage over others.

I love this discussion on Quora - https://www.quora.com/Does-science-fiction-matter-Why-or-why-not - "Science fiction is the most imaginative, most important, and most necessary genre of our time.."

In researching both prehistory and the possibilities in the universe and with quantum energy, "A Brief History of Time" was a great read although I can't say I understood it all. Quantum energy plays more in into the "Vision Speak: Awakening" sequel.