Visually a ghost or spirit orb isn’t difficult to describe. It is a ball of light or bright energy. They are often white in color, but many other colors have been experienced as well. They usually move, sometimes in an erratic pattern and sometimes very quickly. One explanation for these balls of light is that it is a spirit, which does not have the power to manifest itself completely. They define themselves instead as tiny spheres of energy.
There is an ongoing debate in the paranormal community over what an orb actually is or isn’t. There are those who completely believe that they are people who have passed on and provide their research to back up the claims. And, of course, there are those who are a bit skeptic that orbs exist in any form relating to the paranormal at all.
So, are orbs real? Most spirit orbs are seen in photos, some on video, and rarely seen by the naked eye. Many of these can be de-bunked as false positives for being airborne particles such as dust, which the fine lens of a camera picks up and magnifies. Things like dust, pollen, moisture and a host of other impurities in the air happen more than most people would like to admit. Which lends to the controversy. However, it is a bit harder to be tricked by video. Because video can capture motion, any light anomaly that becomes visible in video has the bonus of motion, which can be analyzed. It is a lot easier to verify or dispel an orb if it can be connected with movement.
With all that in mind, whenever you are doing any field research, take the time to note the weather, the wind, and the surrounding elements and write these down for later reference. That way, if anything shows up in your photos you can refer to your notes and more easily identify what is showing up, if it is indeed an entity or result of the environment. While it can be difficult to tell the difference between an atmospheric anomaly and the true paranormal phenomena, spirit orbs are thought to have more substance than the usual photographic flaw. Visual sightings may be more reliable, though, like ghost apparitions, not everyone can see them. From first person accounts, spirit orbs seem to appear most whenever they have a direct purpose. They don’t seem to appear as a haunting, their appearances seem to be directly connected to a task. Once they have made an initial contact, or accomplished what they have set out to do, they disappear. Some people believe they are angels, some that they are negative spirits. This can depend greatly on the color. Of course, that still leaves us wondering about this tiny entity and we may have to be content with just calling them spirit orbs and knowing they usually mean to cause us no harm and maybe even bring about some good.
So what are the differences in orb colors? Often orbs will appear clear. Much like the soap bubbles we liked to blow as children. It is widely believed they are spirits simply trying to let the living know they are around. Often they are experienced around a location where some significant event took place, and the spirit wants help to move on.
White or silver: Some investigators think that orbs that are either silver or white in appearance are those spirits that are trapped on this plane or that they stay to offer protection to the people in the area. This belief is based on the idea that white energy is perceived as pure or positive in nature.
Black or brown: The words “ dark” or “black” are widely associated with negative or evil energy. Dark orbs are no exception. When black or brown orbs appear, some investigators interpret them as a sign the area is unsafe and containing negative energy. Such a place should be examined with caution.
Red, pink or orange orbs: While warm colors are often associated with strong emotions such as anger or passion, this may not be the case when it comes to these orbs. Paranormal research has been known to show that pink, red or orange orbs are a sign of an entity that has assumed the role of protector. This could be a carry over from a person who, in life, was charged in life to keep watch or be a caretaker of some sort. There is much evidence that priest or monks spirits appear this way.
Blue orbs: Like the other orb colors, there are different theories about what the presence of blue orbs may mean. Some feel they are a calming presence or energy, while others feel they indicate the presence of a spirit guide. All in all, the general opinion is that they are benevolent in nature.
Green orbs: These are the orbs that are generally felt to be malevolent or negative in nature. This can mean a presence of something even demonic or inhuman. If you capture evidence of these in a location, it is advisable that you contact help as soon as possible.
* Keep in mind that these are just the theories that abound in the world of paranormal investigation and cannot be considered “hard” truths at this time. One day, perhaps, parapsychologists will be able to offer a definitive explanation for orb phenomena. Until then…the investigation continues.