The spirits of the newly dead are said to take the form of great floating balls of fire, glowing in amber, pale blue or ruddy-white like the moon, sometimes dragging long blue flickering tails behind them. A hito-dama is often seen shortly before a sick person dies, leaving the weakening body and heading off for the next stage of existence. They often fall to earth or fade away shortly after they are seen, leaving a foamy or slimy residue on whatever they touch.