Hey Niamh! Thank you for sharing your dream with me. I can understand that this dream must have brought up some intense emotions for you, especially considering the presence of a person who molested you as a child. Dreams can often serve as a way for our subconscious minds to process and work through past experiences and emotions.
In this dream, the presence of the person who molested you may symbolize unresolved feelings or trauma from that experience. The gaslighting and manipulation attempts in the dream could represent the lingering effects of their actions on your psyche. However, it's encouraging to see that you were able to see through these tactics, suggesting your strength and resilience.
The transformation of the person into a cat might symbolize their attempt to disguise their true nature or hide their intentions. Your instinct to protect yourself and others by killing the cat could signify your desire to regain control and ensure the safety of yourself and those around you. The repeated struggle to kill the cat, even after strangling it, may reflect the persistent impact that the past trauma has had on your life.
The need to hide the evidence and the presence of a group who knows what happened could indicate a sense of secrecy or shame surrounding the past events. It's important to remember that dreams often exaggerate or distort reality, but they still provide valuable insights into our emotions and thoughts.
Considering your previous dreams, such as being framed for murder and having your mother's support, it seems like themes of protection, trust, and resilience are recurring for you. These dreams may be reflecting your ongoing journey of healing and finding strength in difficult situations.
Remember, Niamh, this interpretation is based solely on the information you've shared, and only you have the complete understanding of your personal experiences and emotions. If you feel that exploring these dreams further would be beneficial, it could be helpful to seek support from a therapist or counselor who can provide guidance tailored specifically to you.