Star Wars and lightsabers go hand in hand. They're kind of like the space-weaponry equivalent of an electric guitar. While all lightsabers have the inherent capability to cause massive damage, they also come in different colors. But why? It turns out that for a number of reasons ranging from both story and post-production, the addition of multiple lightsaber colors came about. According to an article from Vox, the color is indicative of a Jedi's personality and temperament and is determined by the Jedi who originally uses it.
Lightsabers are born from Kyber crystals, most commonly found within the caves of the frozen planet Ilum. Sith all have red as their color due to the use of synthetic crystals used to make their sabers that have a red hue. For the colors that have not appeared within Star Wars films thus far, fans can also turn to the extended universe for additional information. Lastly, in order to tie the information about each saber color from the far reaches of a galaxy far away and back to this one is to tie this information to Zodiac signs as well. The different lightsaber colors are as follows.
Movie Universe
Green Lightsaber (Zodiac Signs: Libra, Capricorn, Cancer)
In the Star Wars films released up to this point the green lightsaber is most typically recognized with characters like Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Luke Skywalker. Users of green lightsabers prefer negotiation or meditation over combat, but do believe in obtaining peace through force if needed. It's been revealed in the years since the original trilogy that the shift in color from blue to green for Luke Skywalker was in part due to the green color being more easily visible on the screen.
Blue Lightsaber (Zodiac Signs: Cancer, Aries, Aquarius)
Users of blue lightsabers have a strong sense of justice and protection. Typically, this color is seen with skilled fighters on the light side of the force. Famous users of this color include Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Red Lightsaber (Zodiac Signs: Leo, Pisces, Gemini)
The red lightsaber is of course famous for use among the Sith. The red lightsaber is created from synthetic Kyber crystals that have a red hue and the color is representative of evil and power. These are used mostly by Sith but also by some darker Jedi. Famous characters include Darth Sidious, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, and Kylo Ren.
Purple Lightsaber (Zodiac Signs: Pisces, Virgo, Libra)
While the purple lightsaber is actually known to have been a personal request from Samuel L. Jackson for his character Mace Windu, it's since gone on to be representative of his character's traits. Purple lightsabers represent Jedi who are more ambiguous with their relationship to the force and have abilities in both light and dark techniques (their color is literally blue and red combined).
Star Wars Expanded Universe
Yellow Lightsaber (Zodiac Signs: Scorpio, Sagittarius, )
We've most recently seen the first yellow lightsaber of the films in the ownership of Rey. However, the color has its origins in the expanded universe. This color of lightsaber is most commonly found with Jedi that have a knack for espionage and tactical proficiency. These Jedi are known for seeking out users of the dark side and neutralizing such threats.
Orange Lightsaber (Zodiac Signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra)
Users of the orange lightsaber prefer negotiation to combat. They are part of the Sentinel class, which is known for stealth and covert operations as well as being highly intelligent. A prominent character in the extended universe known for this color is Yaddle.
Silver Lightsaber (Zodiac Signs: Taurus, Libra, Scorpio)
This is one of the lightsaber colors that hasn't made it to the films just yet, it's fun to think about how cool it would look on screen. The silver lightsaber is meant to represent lightsaber wielders who have a great sense of calm and clarity of mind. They have extreme focus on the living force and are known for having obedience to a larger cause.
Black Lightsaber (Zodiac Signs: Gemini, Leo, Aries)
The black saber, also known as the darksaber, is most well-known for the character Pre Vizsla in the Star Wars extended universe. The color is representative of self-obsession, and are used by those who are controlled by their narcissism. This is a saber that would make for immensely interesting new villains should Disney roll the dice on another Star Wars trilogy. It has since been seen in the hands of Moff Gideon on The Mandalorian, before being won in combat by Din Djarin.
After learning more about the different lightsaber colors used by the various Jedi and Sith within the Star Wars universe adds a new layer of depth to previous events in the films. It's a lot of fun to go back and keep these in mind during subsequent viewings, as they often do fit with a character's actions. It's also fun to wonder about if these characters have always had the same color, or have switched along the way, much like Luke or Anakin Skywalker have.
It remains to be seen if Disney will begin to take on the influences of the extended universe more heavily. There's certainly a vast amount of content there to add to an already complex galaxy. Should they play their cards right, the use of new lightsaber colors could be just the thing to create epic and iconic moments that feel significantly different from those that have come before, almost like a fresh coat of paint.