I used to have the most vivid dreams nightly.  Every morning I would wake with the most incredibly detailed memories of whole other worlds.  I also had chronic nightmares.  Which, in a way, wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because I grew used to them and so, in turn, they held less power over me.  Less power to instill fear in me.

For the past several years, however, my remembered dreams have been sparse, maybe one every few months and then it would be gone within a few moments of waking.  For the past few weeks, though, I’ve been remembering them like crazy.  I’m not sure what created the turn around, but it’s been kind of fun.

Who knows what causes dreams or why you dream what you do - there are many theories.  But I do believe that some of what you dream is an aftereffect of things you see during the day.

As usual, several of my dreams lately have had their rather disturbing moments.  They’ve been pretty wild and I think it may slightly be because of the rather crazy entertainment I’ve had lately.  So if you’re looking for the recipe for wild and nutty dreams, here it is:

One part Charmed episodes (I’ve been watching the entire series on DVD.  I never saw this show when it was on the air, but have really grown to like it and I just finished the Season 5 finale.  Three more seasons to go.   I finally finished all of the Buffy and Angel seasons, so I guess I had to get my supernatural tv show fix somehow.)

One part crazy supernatural book (I’ve been reading a book called “No Humans Involved,” by Kelley Armstrong.  It’s been pretty interesting so far and is about a necromancer who is trying to do a reality show in which the producers want her to contact Marilyn Monroe’s spirit.  Although, that’s the least of her worries.  She soon discovers the property is haunted by the ghosts of six murdered children and, along with her werewolf crush, has to traverse the world of human magical cults in order to uncover their murderers.)

And finally, one part computer game (I’ve become addicted to these mystery computer games over the past couple of years.  The one I’m playing right now is called “Sherlock Holmes:  The Awakened” and is one of the more gruesome ones that I’ve seen.  It involves human sacrifice along with jewel smuggling.  If you aren’t familiar with these games, you pretty much play as though you’re the detective and have to go around discovering clues, interviewing people and solving the mystery.  The graphics are truly amazing on some of these.  In fact, the one I’m playing now plays like one of those 360 degree virtual tours you get on a real estate website.  You move your mouse around and it’s like you’re looking around. I have to admit that at times it’s enough to make you seasick, so I prefer the ones that are a bit more 2D.  Some other cool ones that I’ve really enjoyed are in the Agatha Christie series such as “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Evil Under the Sun,” and “And Then There Were None.” I also have to admit that I’m not nearly brilliant enough to finish one of these games completely on my own without looking at least three or four times at an online walkthrough.  Or, perhaps I’m just too impatient.)

Anyway, all of this is to say that it’s no wonder I’m having wild dreams with these three things on my mind!  And no, all of this at once isn’t normal for me!