White – Where everything begins

Every color holds its own meaning in our lives. There are colors we are naturally drawn to, and others we could never imagine wearing or bringing into our personal space, our homes. If you’ve ever wondered why that is, I wrote more about it in a previous blog post.

I’ve always been fascinated by the meaning of colors, and the emotions they evoke within us. So in this series exploring different colors, I’d like to begin with my personal favorite — a color I wear often, and one that, to me, represents a sense of timeless simplicity and purity. White.

As you read this, you might pause for a moment and think: but white isn’t even a color. And yet, did you know that white is actually the combination of all colors? From a physical perspective, white is not a single wavelength of light, but the presence of the entire visible spectrum — all the colors of the rainbow together.

But what if we set aside the facts of physics for a moment, and instead focus on what we feel? Why do we associate white with purity, light, and simplicity?

White is the color of clarity — of a blank page, of beginnings, of new possibilities. It is a color that naturally belongs with every other color, and one that you can shape through your own presence, your own intention.

At its core, white holds a sense of equality, as all colors exist within it in balance. It is also a color that highlights — whether it’s a form, another color, or even ourselves, our personality.

White has long held symbolic meaning across cultures. It appears in myths and spiritual traditions — from Zeus transforming into a white swan, to the dream of a white elephant announcing the birth of Buddha, to the dove representing the Holy Spirit.

In Hinduism, it is connected to the Cosmic Egg, symbolizing eternity and the unfolding of existence. In China, it is the color of mourning.

And yet, like all colors, white is deeply personal. Our experiences shape how we relate to it. Alongside its softness and openness, it can also carry more difficult associations — the sterility of hospitals, a sense of coldness, or emotional distance.

How do you feel about the color white?

If you take a moment, try to think of five things that can only exist in white. It can be interesting to notice what feelings these bring up within you.