Some people believe that orbs, or light spots in pictures, are spirits. Others say they are spots with explainable causes, such as dust on the camera lens.
Patti McCullough of Murrells Inlet has heard and read the arguments. 'I believe those spheres of light are a form of energy. I believe they are manifestations of animal or human spirits, or spirit guides and guardian angels,' she said.
Her Pomeranian, Sandy, died seven years ago. T.J., also a Pomeranian, died last summer. She said she saw her first real orb after she received Sandy's cremated ashes. She put the box with his ashes in it in the bathroom where he liked to lie. 'I was telling my pet I loved him, and I missed him,' she said. 'The words were no sooner out of my mouth than a gold golf-ball-size light rose off of the box of ashes and rose above my head, dissipating before it hit the ceiling. Out loud I said, 'What the heck was that?''
That experience changed her life spiritually and sent her on a quest to learn more.
'My heart was literally broken from losing my companion until this light experience, which dramatically eased my grief,' she said.
For almost six years, she read books about unusual occurrences with pets that had died. She said she learned from many sources about people who had near-death experiences and saw their beloved pets when they were clinically declared dead. 'I have read many books about amazing paranormal stories involving pets,' she said.
In 2006, she visited Lily Dale, N.Y., America's oldest spiritualist community, where mediums are abundant and spheres and spirits are expected and accepted.
It was there that she saw people taking pictures with orbs in them. Since then, she has taken numerous pictures in her backyard where T.J. and Sandy's ashes are buried. People told her it was caused by her camera. That camera stopped working, and she got a new one. The orbs still appeared.
'I would like to find an open-minded camera person,' she said.
Her husband, John McCullough, is very supportive of her and her belief. He recently saw a Lifelong Learning pamphlet from Coastal Carolina University and marked two classes, Metaphysical Round Table and Meet Your Guide and Be Guided, for her to consider. She was excited and then deflated when she learned both classes were full.
On her quest, she has met many like-minded people on the Internet and in person. An Internet friend enhances some of her orbs, and they show colors. Sometimes faces can be seen in them, she said.
McCullough said she did not get orbs in her pictures until she asked for them to be there. 'They're respectful. They're not going to ruin your picture if you don't want them in it,' she said of the spirits. 'It is proven that those who are open to it and want them will get them, and the negative people won't get them.'
She is convinced that her beliefs are not contrary to the Bible, which includes many incidents or mentions of spirits, angels and the paranormal. 'I believe in Christ. I believe that what we're supposed to be following is his love,' she said. 'I wish more people could be open to the mysteries of life and at least admit there's a heck of a lot more to it than we understand in this dimension.'
(Original headline: Orbs help to ease owner's grief )
