03/03/25 dream #2: I dreamt that I was living in a world where the USA had become a corporate autocracy, and there was this new event called the “Super Mario Games,” which was essentially like the Olympics or Squid Game but on Steroids, wherein the winners would be showered with cash and praise in the capital city, but the losers and disqualified contestants would be dragged kicking and screaming into Bowser’s Castle to be publicly shamed and tortured. Oddly enough, in this universe, Bowser legitimately was a figure somewhat like big brother, in which he would upload creepy videos to YouTube and broadcast regularly on state tv, with his programming mostly consisting of announcing arrest/execution warrants, forcing kidnapped criminals to confess their sins, and also calling out any official event/tournament cheaters to instigate witch-hunts upon them. I then realized I was in a cafeteria with some other adults, presumably in college, and we were all being handed a sign-up for The Super Mario games and given a massive sheet of coupons. I was hesitant to sign up, but the rest of my compatriots didn’t seem as hesitant to do so, which I found super weird. I was still a bit confused, as despite the tense atmosphere, I wasn’t sure whether participation in the super Mario games was mandatory or not, so I just sat there thinking about it. Until then, I saw a state broadcast which contained this cringe ad advertising Bowser’s nicotine patches, which was followed by Rhett & Link both conducting a state news broadcast under the banners of Nintendo & Walmart. This really freaked me out, especially with how Rhett and Link were discussing new anti-smoking policies being run through the Nintendo tribunal, so in response, i decided to sneak out through a fire exit while the cafeteria’s lights were still dim. After my escape, I walked over to my brother’s house, to which he seemed standoff-ish and not as warm, as if he saw me as a close friend rather than his little sister. I tried to stay there for a while and let loose with them, but eventually, after we ate some delicious M&Ms themed Boba and Mochi, I decided to split. I walked around for a bit, eventually then finding a massive Nintendo mega complex which took up the space of an entire shopping mall and now controlled the local police stations as well. Feeling cold and lonely, I decided to go inside, only for a serious receptionist dressed as peach to ask me “what is your purpose?” To which I replied “I am looking for work within your company.” She smiled to me, saying “that way please,” to which she then pointed down the hallway to the office of Super Mario. Somehow, not finding anything weird with the fact she just referrred to Mario as if he were a real person, I decided to walk down the hallway. It was then that I looked upon the walls, and gathered the history of the corporate autocracy is that corporate leaders from years past had become a dictatorship that ruled most of the world, but once the leaders themselves died, their image was reformed by the ruling party to instead be an immortal image of whatever corporate icon they represented. Hence after Shigeru Miyamoto had died, his likeness shifted into Mario; after SEGA’s CEO had died, Sonic the Hedgehog became the official ruler of Japan & Eastasia; Cadbury and the East India Company similarly controlled the UK & Celtic territories; Apple controlled several states near the Great Lakes as an immortal diarchy ruled by Siri & Steve Jobs; and weirdest of all, after Microsoft folded in this universe, it became an immortal image of a young Bill Gates whom controlled the west coast as a lord. I grew a bit curious, and tried to find more info on how the “Bowser” or “King Koopa” that I had seeen earlier was, but I found no actionable information along the walls about him like I had with Mario and the others, all that it said about Bowser was about his Castles and Prison Complexes and the purgatories he created for criminals, but no hints on the origin of the man himself, as if he just simply manifested as an innate antagonistic force to Super Mario himself. I tried to keep looking some more to see if I’d missed anything, but then a quite buff man dressed as Toad holding a massive silenced rifle approached me and chambered a round, asking me in a cold voice “where are you headed, darling?” To which I replied to him shakily “T-To see Super Mario… for a j-job,” as I shifted in place and began to sweat. The toad-dressed guard then loosened a bit, seeming to relax his posture a bit, as he said in a far more chipper voice befitting of Toad “ohhh, I thought you were another spy from Sonic. You’re good! You need a minute to freshen up before your interview?” A bit taken aback, I asked him “sure! Where’s the bathroom at?” Toad then pointed his gun down the hallway, as he said “It’s the door with the kanji character and/or the Venus symbol on it, the second one down from us.” “Right then, got it,” I said to Toad as I began to run down the hallway towards the bathroom, quickly finding the door and flinging it open as I locked myself into a stall. I then grew freaked out and in a state of intense paranoia and shock, as I began to splash water on my face and calm myself. It was at this point that the shock of the corporate necrocracy that I was living in was really starting to get to me, and I began to grow concerned for my safety. I sat there crying for who knows how long, naked and in intense fear on the toilet, until suddenly, I heard three armed security guards break down the stall door. They opened saying “You’re under arrest for crimes against women,” they said as they gestured to my still pre-op genitals and began to order me onto the floor. I began to try to plead my case and tell them my rights, but I noticed far too late into my spheal that they were Wal-Mart enforcers and not state troopers, as I saw the corporate logo badges and their bluish-white police uniforms clear as day. I then gasped and began to despair, as two of the officers beat me in the head with a truncheon mercilessly until I was too dazed and confused to even move, before they then started to drag me off to “Bowser’s Castle” for “[my] sentence of reformation.” I began to panic, using the last of my lucidity to beg for clemency, to which an officer said to me “Well, you could pay off your crimes with forced labor or a fine instead, and we will look the other way this time.” I had no money, obviously, so I just said “take me to the labor camp, please.” To which the wal-mart enforcer gave me a sly grin, replying “good choice,” as he explained the situation to Nintendo corporate and seemingly began to sign some papers mostly out of earshot of me, before he then threw me into the back of a blue wal-mart van and locked me inside. He then started to explain how I was being shipped off for processing, and that I could apply for a common law gender change under their corporate policy after my first day of work. I felt slightly more at ease, but still not great, as I began to silently cry in the dark van, with only a purple light bulb in the ceiling of the vehicle barely illuminating the cabin. I was like this for who knows how long, until suddenly, the vehicle stopped, which immediately jolted me awake from my nightmare. FIN. I awoke in a delirious and confused mood today, still very much hungry and thirsty as I had barely eaten earlier. The dream itself had me rather weirded out as well, and doing a double take in reality to check that I wasn’t in the Corporate Autocracy version of America still.
This dream presents a fascinating tapestry of fears, societal commentary, and personal reflections, woven through the lens of a surreal, dystopian narrative. Let’s look at various elements of your dream to unpack its meanings.
The setting you've described—a corporate autocracy—signals a deep-seated anxiety about societal structures and the erosion of individual freedoms. In recent years, conversations about corporate influence in politics have intensified, and this dream may be reflecting your concerns about losing autonomy and becoming subject to an oppressive system. The reference to “Bowser,” a character traditionally seen as a villain in the Mario universe, represents an authoritarian figure who embodies fear and control, perhaps reflecting feelings of being trapped or manipulated by societal expectations or pressures.
The "Super Mario Games" is a powerful symbol of competition and societal acknowledgment. Significantly, it feels reminiscent of contemporary social and economic pressures—specifically, the belief that success is measured by superficial achievements, often at the expense of personal integrity and mental well-being. The terrifying scenario of winners being showered with rewards while losers face public shame suggests a fear of failure and ostracism in a hyper-competitive society.
Your hesitation to sign up reflects a personal conflict—a battle between conforming to societal norms and maintaining personal integrity. This latter theme seems to represent your introspection and deliberation over your choices in life—how much you may be willing to compromise for acceptance or success.
In the dream, the cafeteria can symbolize your current social environment or the collective mindset of your peers. The contrast between your hesitation and the eagerness of your peers to sign up for the Games might illustrate feelings of isolation or disconnection from those around you, emphasizing a struggle between individuality and conformity.
Going to your brother's house, only to experience a standoffish reception, can reflect feelings of alienation or a shift in familial relationships, possibly signaling a transition in how you perceive your role within your family or your own identity. The enjoyable moments, such as eating together, may represent a longing for connection, but mixed with feelings of discomfort. This duality highlights a struggle between your need for closeness and the fear of being misunderstood or judged.
The description of a Nintendo mega complex that commands control over local institutions mirrors feelings of being engulfed by commercial influences on identity and personal autonomy. The endless bureaucracy—where corporate figures become immortalized in a dystopian hierarchy—suggests a fear of being trapped in a predetermined social structure devoid of personal choice or identity.
The moment spent in the bathroom stall symbolizes a point of vulnerability, a place where you grapple with your fears and emotions. It also demonstrates your need for a refuge from the oppressive environment of your waking life, allowing you to confront your concerns in a space that feels safe, albeit temporarily.
The moment of being arrested for "crimes against women" can reflect societal fears of being marginalized or targeted based on misunderstandings about identity or self-expression. The authority figures embody the corporate and societal pressures that can seem judgmental or oppressive, reinforcing feelings of being overwhelmed. The suggestion of forced labor and the offer for a common law gender change within the corporate framework may indicate your feelings regarding personal transformation and the social implications tied to identity.
Your dream resonates with contemporary issues of autonomy, identity crises, societal expectations, and the fear of losing yourself within corporate or social structures. It’s a rich exploration of your internal landscape as you navigate the complexities of the external world.
Upon waking, feel free to use this dream as a reflective tool. Consider what it symbolizes about your personal experiences, emotional state, and aspirations. Dreaming can be an insightful mirror to your consciousness, offering clarity even amid confusion. It may also be worthwhile to draw from this unsettling experience to assert your personal desires and boundaries in your waking life, recognizing that while societal structures can feel daunting, your individuality and choice are fundamental.