Ahsoka Tano's White Lightsabers: A Symbol of Independence in Star Wars Rebels

Ahsoka Tano, a prominent character in the animated series Star Wars Rebels, wields white lightsabers which serve as a symbol of her unique place in the Star Wars universe. Unlike traditional Jedi who use blue or green lightsabers or Sith who typically use red ones, Ahsoka’s white lightsabers represent her status as a former Jedi who has chosen an independent path.

The white color of Ahsoka's lightsabers indicates her neutrality and independence from the Jedi Order, which she left after becoming disillusioned with its practices. This color choice also reflects her commitment to fighting for justice without aligning strictly with the Jedi or Sith ideologies. The dual white lightsabers further emphasize her individuality and the balance she seeks between the light and dark sides of the Force.

The creation of Ahsoka's lightsabers involves the significant act of purifying kyber crystals from the red ones used by Sith Inquisitors. These red crystals are corrupted by dint of Sith infusions with the dark side of the Force. The purification process, while leaving the crystals white, removes their dark side influence, reinforcing her role as a character who embraces the light while rejecting the rigid structures of the Jedi Order.

The Purification Process

The blade of a lightsaber takes on the color of the focusing crystal used in it. While white crystals do exist naturally, Ahsoka chose to use two of them to create her weapons. This was a strategic decision that allowed her to maintain her unique identity within the conflict.

A detailed explanation of Ahsoka's lightsabers can be found in the Ahsoka book. In it, the reader learns that Ahsoka defeated the Inquisitor known as the Sixth Brother in battle and, due to the lack of her own lightsabers, relied heavily on her Force abilities. During her confrontation with the Sixth Brother, she purified the kyber crystals he had used for his lightsaber during the bleeding process.

The Sith need to bleed kyber crystals for use in lightsabers because, canonically, kyber crystals are naturally attuned to the light side of the Force. The Sith infuse the dark side into these crystals, which is why they are called "bleeding." Darth Vader, for example, is shown on the Dark Side nexus of Mustafar infusing the dark side into a kyber crystal he obtained from a Jedi. This process results in the crystals turning red.

If Anakin Skywalker (before becoming Darth Vader) had returned to the Jedi Order and infused the light side of the Force into a bleeded kyber crystal, his lightsaber would have had a white blade. To date, this is the only canonical way to achieve a white lightsaber blade in the Star Wars universe.

While the Star Wars canon continues to expand, so far, no other methods of obtaining a white lightsaber blade have been explored.