This Adobe Photoshop tutorial will show you how to make a great glowing twirl effect for at backgournd image.

1.
Start with your favorite background color I choose a calm blue, then make a new empty layer above it.

2.
With a white color, choose your brush tool and make sure its a big and soft brush, then draw a cross on the stage.

3.
Go to filter -> distort -> ripple and set it as the image below.

4.
Go to filter -> distort -> twirl and set it as shown below.

5.
Make a copy of the shape layer, then select the bottom shape layer and go to filter -> blur -> motion blur and blur it about 225 horizontal.

6.
Double click the top layer in the layers panel to get to the layers style panel, and give it an outer glow as in the image below.

7.
Give it a gaussian blur at about 1 and your are done.
A fast and easy effect, but great for a background image.