Stephanie,
In your dream aboard the Enterprise, where you engage in mundane tasks before transitioning to a more bizarre and evolving scenario, we can see a reflection of perhaps feeling undervalued or unrecognized in your waking life. The fact that you're starting out with boring tasks suggests that you might be experiencing a period of stagnation or seeking greater purpose and excitement. The progression from a normal restaurant scene to talking, metamorphosing cats, and transformed crew members, including Riker as a caveman, indicates a possible desire for transformation in your life or anxiety about changes you observe in others around you.
The presence of animals, particularly the transformation of humans into animals, might symbolize a return to basic instincts or desires. The fact that you end up enjoying the primitive form of affection from caveman Riker, as well as your own metamorphosis into a dog-cat hybrid, suggests a deep-seated need for simple, unconditional acceptance and love. The emotional intensity of the dream and your reaction to the unfolding events underscores a current emotional state where you may feel overwhelmed by the unexpected or uncontrolled changes in your environment or within yourself.
The recurring theme of cats, including the standout kitty with spider legs, and transforming figures like Trump into a cat, ties back to previous dreams where transformations and the feline motif were prominent. These elements might be symbolic of your feelings towards authority figures or unexpected leadership roles, where the feline aspects represent independence and the spider legs could symbolize interconnectedness or the ability to navigate complex situations. The train of kitties and caterpillar kitty may represent the journey of life and the continuous progression through different stages, with curiosity and playfulness as key components.
Your previous dreams have often featured elements of work, transformation, and fantastical scenarios, such as being in a school with friendly people, working at a fast pace at FedEx, or interacting with Beavis and Butthead. This latest dream continues the theme of navigating different roles and environments, but with a heightened sense of emotional intensity and the exploration of your own identity, as seen through the transformation into a hybrid animal. The feelings of fear and acceptance in your dream may be reflecting a complex emotional landscape in your waking life, where you are seeking balance between the responsibilities and the desire for personal growth and emotional fulfillment.
Remember, the intensity of the dream and the negative feelings you experienced, despite not being a nightmare, are indicative of strong emotional currents in your life. These feelings could be related to your desire for change, fear of the unknown, or a search for a more authentic form of connection. As you continue to reflect on these dream experiences, consider how they might be mirroring your journey towards self-discovery and personal transformation.