The sunflowers of Van Gogh. The quiet center of a candlelight. The first light of a summer morning.
There is a golden thread that runs through these. We call it yellow, but it’s actually the color of “awake.” It is the earth’s way of catching the sun and holding it still.
Most of us have lived within this color without realizing we were part of a cosmic secret. Yellow is the world waking up—that infectious glow of a field in bloom that makes you stop and breathe.
But in our human story, yellow is notoriously hard to “catch”—it’s light, it’s heat, and it’s usually gone by the time you actually find your sunglasses.
Then, we found the root. Turmeric. The earth’s way of bottling the sunrise so we can finally hold it in our hands.
The “Mirror” Approach
To understand why this root is at the center of our biggest life moments, we have to flip our logic on how color actually works. In his article on the Nature of Color, Sadhguru explains it in a way that feels like a magic trick:
“Color is not what it is; color is what it gives away. What you reflect will be your color. What you hold will not be your color.”
When you see that stinging, vibrant gold of Turmeric, the root isn’t actually “being” yellow. It is rejecting the yellow light and throwing it back at you. In the yogic tradition, this act of “giving away” is everything. As Sadhguru says, “Whatever you give away, that will be your quality in the world also.”
Deeply rooted: The heavy side of yellow
We often think of yellow as a “happy” or “bubbly” color, but Turmeric yellow has some serious weight to it. It’s tied to the Muladhara—the root chakra at the base of our energy system.
Sadhguru reveals that this was the specific reason Gautama the Buddha chose this color for his early monks:
“He [Gautama] told them to wear the yellow robe, because yellow is the color of the Muladhara… He wanted them to be stable. For a monk, the most important thing is he practices stability in his life.”
It’s not just a “mood boost”; it’s about finding your ground. This specific yellow is the solid platform that allows the rest of your life to be as exuberant as you want it to be.
From amber waves to golden mists
This obsession with gold isn’t just an “Eastern” thing; it’s a deep, biological “yes” that resonates across the planet.
In the West, we call it the “Golden Hour.” It’s that late autumn afternoon when American wheat fields turn into a sea of amber. It’s that specific glow that makes every Instagram photo look 10x better. We feel that inner “sigh” because the sight of gold tells our system that the harvest is in, the food is plenty, and we are safe.
In the East, we don’t just look at the gold; we wear it. Think of the energy of Holi. Before you even see the color, you smell it—that earthy, sharp scent of Turmeric dust. When it hits the air, it turns a crowded street into a shimmering gold mist.
In Tamil Nadu, this liquid gold marks the “Threshold” during the Manjal Neerattu Vizha, honoring a young girl’s transition into womanhood. Meanwhile, in Kerala, during Vishu, Turmeric is used to cleanse the home. It’s a sensory reset to ensure that nothing sticks to you that doesn’t belong. It keeps your space—and your skin—extraordinary.
Wearing the Sun
Why Turmeric? Because it is hard to feel small when you are covered in the color of the harvest. It is the joy of Holi, the warmth of a wedding, and the light of a new day, all held in a simple root.
As Sadhguru explains in the Meaning of Colors, this gold is a preparation. It is the shade you wear to stay tethered to the earth even as you reach for something higher. It provides the steady foundation that allows you to be as exuberant and joyful as you want to be, without losing your center.
This is the beautiful “conspiracy” of the gold: the world turns this color to remind us that we can hold the light, too. When that golden dust touches your skin, remember: you aren’t just wearing a color. You’re wearing stability. You’re wearing the sun’s reflection. You’re wearing an extraordinary life.
Bring the Glow Home
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