Orbs - the overlooked question
Sep 12th, 2008 | By Fiona Broome | Category: Ghost photography
Ghost orbs are a controversial topic, even among believers.
Most of us agree that at least 90% of orbs can be explained as refracted light from moisture, reflective surfaces, insects, pollen or dust.
Some of us believe that the remaining 10% (or so) are unexplained –Â called anomalies — and indicate possible paranormal activity.
Skeptics fall back on the explanation that those unexplained 10% are just dust. That’s a convenient excuse.
But, let’s say that those orbs are “just dust.” There’s still an overlooked question. In fact, it can be startling and obvious when you think about it.
Why do we see so many more orbs in photos taken at haunted places?
Why are there dozens of orbs in photos taken at a haunted cemetery, and hardly any orbs at a field just down the street from that cemetery?
If they’re both equally dusty, shouldn’t we see an equal number of orbs in the photos?
Let’s backtrack for a moment.
GHOSTS AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Most ghost hunters point to physical evidence such as doors that slam without explanation. Or, they’ll talk about lights, radios and televisions that turn on “by themselves.”
Similarly, I’ve heard a broken piano play music at The Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana.
We’ve seen balls roll by themselves, pencils move across tables, and so on.
So, why is it so preposterous to think that a ghost might deliberately lift flecks of dust, to manifest as orbs in our photos?
Remember the movie, Ghost? In one scene, Patrick Swayze — as a ghost — struggles to move physical objects. Fortunately, another ghost shows him how it’s done.
But what about ghosts in cemeteries and other haunted locations? Maybe no one has shown them how to move large and heavy objects. Perhaps a particle of dust is all that they can manage.
A ghost that gets our attention with a fleck of dust is no less real than a ghost that slaps someone, rolls a ball across the floor of a deserted hospital, or slams doors in an empty hall.
SUMMARY
In most cases, ghost hunters dismiss orbs caused by obvious reflective objects such as stop signs, shiny headstones, car lights, insects and rain.
Sure, some orbs are caused by dust particles. What’s important is this: Is the dust an anomaly?
If you’re seeing unexplained orbs in photos taken at one location, take photos at a nearby location with similar levels of dust, pollen, and so on. Equal orbs indicate natural causes.
However, if you see orbs in photos at a haunted cemetery but not in photos at the Little League field next door, the real issue isn’t whether it’s dust. Instead, ask why the orbs only show up in the haunted cemetery.
The answer might be: Ghosts.
we have been doing alot of pic taking, around our place. we try and take at least two pics at a time, in the same spot. more times than not, there is an orb and then in the next, it’s gone. sometimes, we catch the the tail of the orb before it is gone. would that be dust? or moisture? and in such a large area? we have 10 acres to work on, w/alot of past. i would like to send you some pics.
how can we help bad spirits to move out from their suffering hell & reach them next good birth?
Cool website. But I have to say I respectfully disagree with the theory of ghosts raising dust particles to form orbs. Dust exists in our “dimension” so to speak and if it was dust we were seeing on camera shots, wouldn’t we be able to see the orbs with our eyes? Plus the dust would have to be in a near perfect circle shape to comprise what we see in the photos. I have some awesome orb pictures taken at a notoriously haunted place as well as some weird vocal noises on a digital recorder from the same spot. I noticed raven wanted to send some pictures in and I would like to do the same. Is there someone I can send them to?
Some people do see orbs with their eyes, not just in the photos. However, they seem to be in a very tiny minority. I’d guess fewer than 5% of ghost hunters actually see orbs on site.
However, I have no doubt that humidity and rain cause some false orbs, and I don’t see those orbs with my eyes, either.
In most settings, I don’t see the flecks of dust that we raise when we walk or — in total darkness — shuffle around. However, we can generally spot the dust cloud in front of the camera when the flash highlights it. When that’s going on, I usually discount orbs in the photos.
My point with this article is: Do you believe that a spirit can slam a door, roll a ball across the floor, or move something large? If so, consider the possibility that a very weak spirit (or a prankster) is lifting just one fleck of dust, hoping that it’ll show up as a tiny light or an orb in the photo.
But, in general, I never accept orbs as proof of ghosts, unless there is other clear and supporting evidence that the site is haunted.
Regarding photos: We’re generally not able to analyze individual photos at this time. We receive hundreds every week, and while we look at as many as we can, we’re not able to evaluate most photos via email.
Crossing over to the other side is a topic I’ll be addressing in my next online course, madhuki.
There’s a five-step process that I recommend to help stuck or unhappy spirits cross to the other side. The first step can be the trickiest if a spirit is angry or has evil intentions.
In the latter case, contact should not be attempted unless you are well-protected, spiritually, and know what you’re doing.
However, with a friendly or sad spirit, it’s fine to talk out loud with them and encourage them to look for the light, look for their friends and family who are waiting for them, and so on.
I’ll discuss this in far more depth in my new online course, due out in November 2008.
Thanks for asking!
Raven, your question is a good one.
If you see the orb moving out of the frame in the second picture, check the shape of the orb that you saw in the first photo. If it’s an irregular shape, especially if it has a solid-ish centre, it could be a bug.
Enlarge the original photo to check for a yellow dot in the centre, indicating pollen.
Consider every natural and normal explanation, first.
Once you’ve ruled out the natural explanations, and especially if the orb is in only one of the two photos, you’re looking at an anomaly.
I never use orbs as the only reason to believe that a site is haunted. However, if there are other very good reasons — other phenomena and/or some historically-based ghost stories — orbs can provide supporting evidence.
Besides, they’re lovely to look at in photos, and they’re fun to photograph.
Fiona, i love taking pics, and i know the history around this area. when i first moved to the area, my parents bought some land that belonged to a lady named “Ivy Lamb”. she was well into her eighties when i met her, and that was in 1976. we hit it off right away. i would sit on her front porch, which was the 2nd log house to be on the property, and she would tell me so many stories. it would take me a week or more to write all of it down. she would tell me “ghost stories”. i thought they were just that! she told me one, that kind of gave me the creeps. it was a true story about her sister and her brother. seems her sister killed her parents, and in return, her brother hunted her down and killed her. in Ivy’s words, she said,”the police came and took my brother away , and i never saw him again”. wellll, i found out that they had taken him to Richmond, Va, to be executed. my point is, that there is alot of history out here. anything from indian fights, civil war, to bootlegging i catch what i think are orbs, and have also gotten some EVPS. me and my sister, are starting our own web site. it’s not quite finished yet, but i would love for you to take alook at it. i have some pics on there. would love to get your thoughts. by the way we both took your course and i think it helped us alot.
thanks, raven
it is: R.C.ParanormalResearchSociety@msn.com
Fiona, sorry, i left you the e-mail address. this is our web site. http://www.rcparanormalresearchsociety.webs.com. hope you can visit us.
thanks, raven