Our understanding of complex social systems often relies on metaphors from the physical world—density, layers, flow, wave—shaping how we visualize and interpret relationships, hierarchies, and movements. This project investigates how such metaphors are not only tools for conceptualization but also boundaries that constrain imagination. Drawing from linguistics, sociology, and cognitive science, I aim to uncover patterns in how spatial metaphors are used in academic and everyday discourse and explore their impact on our ability to envision alternative social structures/realities. The project will combine textual analysis and cross-disciplinary inquiries to explore questions such as: How do physical metaphors shape our understanding of social systems, and can reimagining these metaphors lead to new ways of thinking about society? What cultural or historical shifts shape their prevalence? Can people rise and dreams fall in other politically meaningful ways? Through collaboration with experts from diverse disciplines, the project seeks to open new avenues for understanding social phenomena, pushing beyond the literal and spatial toward a truly limitless imagination.