The Paranormal - Orbs
Orbs are probably the most controversial of all paranormal phenomena, and rightly so. Most orbs are simply dust, moisture, pollen, etc., caught against a cameras flash, and can be easily explained. Many paranormal investigators will discount orbs all together. However, we at PSI believe there are true spirit orbs, and they are much different from the common dust orb. So let's take a closer loom at our friend, the orb.
Orbs are spherical lights or balls of energy, though usually not visible with the naked eye, they typically appear on film or in photographs. Apparent in variable size, most often they appear in shades of white; however, on rare occasions they may take on different colors.
One of the leading theories concerning “what orbs are”, is that they are not the spirit at all. The orb is the energy being transferred from a source, (i.e. power lines, heat energy, batteries, people, etc) to the spirit so they can manifest. This may not even be a conscious thing the spirit is doing, just a natural way they get their energy. This would explain why the orbs are round balls. According to the Laws of Physics, energy being transferred like that would assume is natural shape of a sphere. This theory can also be tied into the EMF readings we get during spirit activity.
Energy, like a globule of water in zero gravity, is drawn together to form a sphere. Orbs may also have something to do with human bio-energy and may be an effect of the energy of the aura. People have certainly seen orbs around other people's heads when making a spirit link.
What are the Orbs we see in ghost photos? Found on a standard photograph these can be caused by crystals in the developing fluid that leave a ring on the picture. They can also be caused by the refraction of the light in the camera lens in both digital and in a standard film camera, particularly if you are filming directly into a light source or towards a reflective surface. Dust floating close to the lens will also catch sunlight and appear to be a ball of light. This is particularly the case if the background is dark and the light source if from the side. While most can be explained, some cannot.
What about the orbs we see on TV programs? The effects of orbs, appearing on some of ghost hunts, which is a strange ball seems to float across the picture. It is quite possible that this is a paranormal phenomenon, but it is probably more likely to be dust. Similarly, if someone is smoking nearby then the smoke may well appear to look like paranormal activity when captured on film. A person’s breath in cold weather can also produce a false anomaly.
What is an aura? An aura is an electromagnetic field surrounding/emanating from an object or organism. Its frequency is viewed in the form of color, as is the case with light. Higher frequencies are associated with warmer colors - (red, orange, yellow)- while lower frequencies tend to reflect cooler colors - (green, blue, violet). We interpret these colors with specific meanings compiled research and examination. These auras change with our moods, experiences, physical health, and mental state. The concept of auras has been around for centuries and can be found in many New Age practices.
How do we see auras? Though some people claim to be able to see auras with their naked eyes, most of us never will have that talent. The most common way to make auras visible is Kirlian photography. Semyon Kirlian invented a camera in 1939 to perfect this unique form of photography, capturing the electromagnetic discharge on special film plates. The Kirlian Effect, as it became known, still remains highly controversial, but is researched still today. With the advancement of digital photography, orbs have become more prevalent in mainstream investigation techniques. Since auras and orbs are comprised of the same form of electro-magnetic and electro-static energies, it seems only logical that they would behave in the same manner. Though the exact reasoning is still uncertain, digital cameras appear to be performing a form of Kirlian photography, capturing the energy, or auras, in a visible form.