The Orbs of the Prophets are mystical artifacts that solidified the faith of Bajorans, making them one of the few Star Trek species that practices a fully realized religion. 30,000 years ago, the first Orb of the Prophet appeared over the skies of Bajor. It was all the proof Bajorans needed that there were powerful celestial beings watching over them. Back then, Bajorans had no concrete proof of their existence. But they looked to the stars and felt in their hearts there was something bigger at work, much like Earth-based religions.
The first Orb was followed by others, one of which was an unnamed Orb later kept hidden by Bajoran spiritual leader Kai Opaka (Camille Saviola) in a secret cave on Bajor. When the Kai becomes convinced that Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) is the Emissary foretold in Bajoran prophecy, she invites him to experience the green orb for himself. It’s the beginning of his path of enlightenment, right when he’s beginning his leadership on Deep Space Nine. The unnamed Orb, like the others, is an hourglass-shaped energy field that uses visions to provide wisdom and guidance to anyone privileged enough to receive their messages.
Orb of Prophecy and Change
In total, nine Orbs appeared over Bajor before the planet ever made its Star Trek debut. The other eight showed up over a period of 10,000 years, and in the process helped birth Bajoran religious practices. The Orb of Prophecy and Change – aka the ‘Orb of Prophecy’ or the ‘Orb of Change’ – was the third Orb to appear to Bajorans. The blue Orb was also a source of powerful visions. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Vedek Bareil Antos (Philip Anglim) is identified as the keeper of this Orb, which is housed in one of Bajor’s many monasteries. The Orb of Prophecy and Change could be a source of healing.
When Captain Sisko is hit by a plasma surge in season 5, episode 10, “Rapture,” he begins experiencing pagh'tem'far, or prophetic visions. Ironically, he seeks the guidance of the Orb of Prophecy and Change to help mitigate the painful effects. The same Orb, however, reminds Kai Winn Adami (Louise Fletcher) that not all who seek wisdom are deemed worthy of it, as it ignores her attempts to engage.
While the Orb of Prophecy and Change is kept in ornately designed Orb arks – a special casing – like the others, it’s the only one to appear in the Mirror Universe.
Orb of Wisdom
Deep Space Nine introduced Vedeks as essentially the monks of the Bajoran religion. Their responsibilities include managing who has access to the Orbs of the Prophets, also known as the Tears of the Prophets. Often, this is a very serious affair. Those seeking to experience the Orbs are vetted, and the actual process of experiencing an Orb can be life-changing. On occasion, though, they could be be a source of classic Star Trek hijinks. In season 5, episode 6, “Trials and Tribble-lations.” the Orb of Wisdom is responsible for sending Captain Sisko and Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) on an accidental time-travel adventure.
Even more hilariously, the Orb of Wisdom reverts Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn) back into the old type of Ferengi who cares more about doing the right thing than making a profit. In season 3, episode 16, “Prophet Motive,” he rewrites the 431 Rules of Acquisition and is ready to return the Orb to the Bajorans for free before Quark (Armin Shimerman) returns him to his cheerfully scheming self. The Grand Nagus may have lost a significant profit, but at least the purple Orb allowed Captain Sisko to meet his hero, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner).
Orb of Time
The Orbs of the Prophets were scattered throughout Bajor after their initial discovery. Many were confiscated by greedy Cardassians and recovered only after the end of the occupation, so sometime after the beginning of Deep Space Nine. The Orb of Time was one of many taken back by Bajorans, and the purple Orb was housed in the Temple of Iponu on their homeworld. Those seeking to experience this Orb were usually looking to take a trip down memory lane.
In season 6, episode 17, “Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night,” Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) uses the Orb of Time to seek the truth after Gul Dukat’s (Marc Alaimo) claims to have had a romantic relationship with her mother, Meru (Leslie Hope). While he’s technically telling the truth, the Major learns that Meru was essentially assigned to be his ‘comfort woman’ in exchange for receiving housing, food, and medical supplies for the family she was forced to leave behind.
In its vision, the Orb of Time painted a bleak reality. Yet, it did its due diligence of providing Major Kira with the answers she was so desperately seeking.
Orb of Contemplation
Deep Space Nine was excellent at briefly introducing a concept or character, and then explaining its importance later on in the series. This is equally true with the Orb of Contemplation. Most of the Orbs of the Prophets were discovered in the Denorios Belt of the Bajoran system. The Orb of Contemplation was another one stolen by Cardassians before being returned to Bajor after the occupation ended. This might’ve been the unknown Orb that started Captain Sisko on his path toward fulfilling his role as the Emissary.
It’s green, like the Orb he experienced. It also seemed to have a similar effect on Gul Dukat when he, acting under the influence of the dark Prophets known as Pah-Wraiths, destroyed the Orb of Contemplation along with all the Orbs before murdering Lt. Dax in season 6, episode 26, “Tears of the Prophets.”
The loss of Lt. Dax left the Deep Space Nine crew in emotional shambles, but the having the Orbs taken out of commission left Bajorans fearfully wondering what would happen next. Meanwhile, a cult of followers takes the destruction of the Orbs as a sign that they should instead follow the teachings of the Pah-Wraiths.
Orb of the Emissary
Each Orb has its own function and even its own unique color. But none stand out in Deep Space Nine quite like the Orb of the Emissary. It was the final Orb sent from the Prophets carrying the most important message of all. After the tragic death of his best friend, Captain Sisko briefly retires to New Orleans with his son Jake (Cirroc Lofton) to spend time with his father Joseph (Brock Peters). Season 7, episode 1, “Image in the Sand,” shows the captain once again plagued by visions. This time they reveal that his mother Sarah (Deborah Lacey) was possessed by the Prophets to ensure his birth.
It’s strange, but it explains just how vital he was to their plans without even realizing it. Sisko follows the visions to the desert planet of Tyree in season 7, episode 2, “Shadows and Symbols.” Sisko finds out that his mother is a Prophet in time to watch her emerge from the Orb of the Emissary. He doesn’t realize it at the time, but she’s going back to Bajor to cast out the Pah-Wraith and restore the Orbs of the Prophets.
The Orbs would go on to make several other appearances throughout Star Trek novels, but their impact lives on through anyone privileged enough to have experienced them in the first place.