ORBS - spirits or dust, why the passion?

This debate on whether Orbs are spirits, camera flare or dust has probably been going on since cameras were invented. The whole phenomenon really got a kick-start however, when we began reviewing video of strange blobs of light hovering over graveyards and places where we expected to see spirits - it doesn't take much for a mind that wants a sign to see one even in the most unlikely of places.

Spirits?

Since then, orbs have taken their place amongst the plethora of ghostly indications and they don't seem to be going away, in fact quite the opposite when now you can apparently classify them into colours and specific meanings - as in this website here.


The biggest argument that I can find in the case for Orbs is the old 'they have their own light-source' and 'they follow a particular path' phenomena. But do they? Are they swirling in the unseen air flows? Are they reflecting light from unknown sources?
Also the fact that Orbs seem to have faces or shapes to them is enough to convince most, but is this just good old pareidolia?

pareidolia - the illusion of seeing faces in the strangest places

Now, by no means am I an expert (on anything) but it does pay to look closely to this subject if you are seeking evidence of the other side. Any 'ghost hunter' worth his (or her) salt will use debunking as a tool just as much as he will use EVPs, EMF indications and temperature fluctuations, so of course why would we not apply this to orbs as well?

This does seem to be the million dollar question, as in my experience, there are two camps - either you're with the orbs or you're against the orbs. Why then is there not a critical response to whether these objects are real or just a trick of the eye?
Maybe there is - this site takes possibly the most 'scientific' view on the matter so perhaps before we count ourselves as the for or against, we should cast our eye over it. I'm sure there's many others and if you know of one (or have your own) please feel free to let me know.

Many of you who will read this blog have probably seen or taken part of the google+ conversation since I posted these pictures:

Mine House investigation May 2015

and clearly have a strong opinion one way or the other. But what I want to know is why?
Why is it that there is such strong sentiments attached to orbs, when we are happy to de-classify other captures and move on without blinking an eyelid or creating a heated debate on the subject?

So I have no answers.
But as all of us who are seeking proof, continue to question. To rule something in or out without sufficient evidence seems foolish, so I will continue to be open minded and for now, use my own judgement to decipher these things.

By the way, this is what comes up when you look for 'the best evidence of orbs on the internet. shyeah.  Some dust falling from a heating vent. OR not? what do you think?

Do you believe? Do you discredit?
If so, I would love to know your reasons why -

Psychic protection, elementals & a plan of attack

I live in a very old gold mining city, built upon mine shafts and riddled with quartz and gold veins which are still being dug out to this day. This has lead to some interesting experiences growing up, as the violence and greed that this city has grown on has left some indelible marks in many locations. This brand new home is clearly no different.

Very recently I was invited to join an investigation in a home where activity of the elemental nature was rife.
Sure, the upper two floors were flooded with spirit activity, darting apparitions could clearly be seen almost upon arrival, but it was a very different entity that presided in an open and functioning mine shaft beneath the home. The home owners have spent thousands on employing miners to sure up the original mine, restoring the shafts, ladders and elevators that service the area. There is a glass floor in the house that lets you look all the way down into the mine itself. Since moving in, the family has experienced nothing but bad luck, voices, pipes bursting, things breaking and there is no way they can sell the property or catch a break.


Now, the actual investigation provided a lot of activity, from extreme hot spots, clear communication through ghost boxes and photo evidence. On the third floor we captured growling, draining batteries and the floor was moving like an elevator or a rolling ship for most of the night. This in itself is usually enough to give me physical symptoms, but it was when we ventured down into the basement that it became apparent that I needed to learn a few things.

Firstly, the concrete basement is open to the outside, it is late autumn here and very cold. However after ten minutes of making 'contact' the area became stiflingly hot. Through our communication with the many spirits it was clear that whatever was down there was causing the havoc in the home and it was not happy. Sulfurous smells wafted up, shuffling and raspy noises occurred, even a sound of what seemed to be two coins being rubbed and clinked together and a clear 'yeeeesss' to a question.
My head began to pound, when I peered into the mine for a while, I was almost sick.

After the investigation (and primary cleansing) I headed home. Not being familiar with dealing with heavy or angry energy, I did nothing to decompress...I simply went to bed. I woke with a migraine. I slept for roughly 20 hours on and off. The next two days I couldn't move from the couch, my dreams were feverish and I thought I had caught something nasty. I think it turns out I did. My energy was simply drained from me in a way I haven't encountered before. So, before returning to the house in a couple of days from now, I have to have a plan together. I know for sure i will ground myself afterwards by standing barefoot in the grass and letting the negative energy flow back into the earth, but I'm yet to research the best way for me to protect myself before going in. I'll update the post when I do, but any experienced advice is surely welcome!

Are ufos actually esoteric phenomenon?

Chris Pittman, as seen on Ancient Aliens, hosted this AMA (ask me anything) session about two years ago. But I've only just stumbled across it in my 'research' and it has opened up some new theories on not only the UFO debate, but the paranormal field as a whole.
You can read the full Reddit AMA Here.

Chris starts out by stating that even though he is a 'UFO researcher' he doesn't believe there has been any conclusive proof that Aliens even exist. So ...what does that mean? That in itself is enough to make me read more, a pretty unique standpoint for an investigator you might agree. In his own words, he says that if he was willing to espouse wacky theories about Aliens, he would get more airtime on TV and the media, but clearly this isn't his motivating factor, which does tend to lend more credence to his theories.

"...The biggest failing of so-called paranormal investigation is that reasonable, accurate and verifyable [sic] claims are simply not as entertaining as wild falsehoods."

I think that due to the upsurge of paranormal TV, in this particular field - UFO hunters - and the like, we have to take into consideration the 'entertainment value' of said shows. As much as serious enthusiasts may watch skeptics debate on theory for hours, the reality is that it wouldn't get air time, or drag in the enormous audience that over sensationalised programs with all their fancy graphics and crazy batman angle camera shots do. So we have to sift through the detritus to get to the tiny specs of gold. Like panning. For gold. yes...

Anyway, Chris answers the questions that we all want to ask in this Reddit, and takes us down some paths that we may not have traveled before. Firstly, he answers questions about implants and so called evidence by saying he doesn't believe them, for the simple reason that he doesn't trust the people coming out with this stuff. He also doesn't believe that there is a government cover up, or any so called 'proof' of existence. OK, so what DOES he think? How does a UFOlogist study UFOs if he doesn't think they exist or that there is any proof of their existence at all?!

Then he hits us with his theory:

...I investigated very many UFO sightings over a number of years. I never found any proof of aliens. In fact, I came to believe that UFOs represent some kind of non-human intelligence based on this planet, although I can't prove that, either. I am convinced that UFOs are real, in the sense that there is some kind of aerial phenomenon that is encountered by people that cannot be explained by weather, aircraft or anything conventional like that. I don't know for sure what they are.

 Intriguing. He goes on to speculate that there is a non human intelligence based on this planet and that these entities deliberately 'trick' people into thinking they are 'spacemen'.  Are these entities coming from Earth? Throughout the AMA, he unfolds that during regression therapy (which he himself is dubious on) the stories are held close together by common threads. Mostly abductions are medical in nature, and more often than not covered up by 'screen' memories - usually of an animal in their room - most times an owl - creepy. But when regressed, these animals turn out to be the big eyed Greys watching them and sometimes taking them away.
Chris himself says that delving into this subject is dangerous - that he and his loved ones have suffered because of this and many unexplained things have occurred whilst researching the subject. The spookiest thing he says is that if you start looking at them, they start to look back.

The main theory posed is that some type of 'supernatural entity' shares our planet, and that we are exposed to it during 'altered states of consciousness'. Whether they are creating these altered states or we are more susceptible when we are naturally in these states is yet to be considered. But if we look back through all our recorded history, we see that encounters with bigfoot, imps, sprites, ghosts, angels, demons or even Aliens are rife. So surely something is going on here. Are they all the same thing? Chris posits that wherever there are UFO sightings, there is generally other supernatural phenomena reported also.
I'm certainly intrigued by Chris's theories and will look into them some more. He has a very down to earth and commonsense approach to the field that both embraces and constructively speculates on what is real and what isn't.

What do you think?