Hawick Paranormal

What Are Orbs?

Orbs, light anomalies, globes, spheres, globules, call them whatever you like because if ever there was a subject that has caused contention amongst Paranormal Researchers, then the subject of orbs must be right up there at the top of the list.

In the past decade, the digital photography boom has resulted in an abundance of these strange light anomalies. Although most often caught on digital equipment, orbs have also been captured on 35mm cameras and video. Some people argue that the reason they seem to be captured more often on digital is that we are able to instantly review the shots taken, whereas 35mm film is examined by developers prior to the final prints being handed over. The developer may well have viewed photographs of orbs as being faulty and simply removed the shot completely and rejecting it.

So what exactly are orbs?

Well let's start with what they look like. Most orbs - as their name suggests - are round. Some are perfectly circular, and others more irregular. Paranormal Researchers have seen many colours of orbs, but the most common appear to be white, grey, blue, orange, and black. They come in a variety of sizes and opacity, some with a dense centre and translucent and hazy outer edge, and some with a definite outer edge and a transparent centre. Some orbs have what looks like a pattern or nucleus in their centre. Orbs are often photographed with a bright trail of light suggesting rapid movement and when captured on camcorders, can appear to move erratically or with what seems to be a predetermined passage. They are sometimes captured singly, or as part of a cluster.

Which brings us back to the subject of what they are.....

The current standing is that orbs are the Basic Spirit Form (BSF), and the first stage of a ghost manifestation. It is widely accepted that there are four stages of a ghost manifestation:-

• Energy Genesis or Orbs
• Energy Vortex - Often captured as coils of light or cylindrical tubes                     
• Ectoplasmic Formation - Often captured as a white, grey, or blueish swirling mist, smoke like in appearance
• Full Manifestation/Materialisation

There is no conclusive evidence to date that suggests a stage 1 manifestation can communicate with the living on any level, as it is deemed to have insufficient energy. Evidence suggests that communication is possible with a stage 2 manifestation, although tactual phenomena and scents are believed to only be possible with a ghost in the 3rd or 4th stage of manifestation.

Sceptics have a very different opinion of orbs. Their current standing is that orbs are a result of light refractions on the camera lens, moisture in the air, airborne dust particles, or even digital pixel fall out. Even the proximity of the flash to the lens has been blamed for these strange anomalies. Pixel fall out as an explanation can be challenged by orbs that have been captured partially behind a person or object.

In FujiFilm's official website, orbs are 'explained' as being blurred images of dust particles, typically grey in colour. This does not explain why orbs are captured in many different colours as mentioned before, or why some are captured in motion on camcorder footage.

Whatever the consensus, there does appear to be a high correlation between haunted locations and the appearance of orbs.

The jury is still out on the subject, so until there is a satisfactory explanation, the research continues.