The good times keep spinning forward for The Wheel of Time series on Prime Video. WoT Season 2 is being released on September 1, 2023, and Season 3 has already been approved and is finishing up. What better time to dive deeper into the story?
This writer, with a deep appreciation for the books, decided to explain a few things about the world that Robert Jordan’s books have created to better understand the characters and the show.
After the breaking of the world, the women channelers who survived (those who could wield the magical One Power) created the White Tower to serve as a beacon against the chaos of the world’s breaking. The White Tower created seven factions within itself, known as Ajahs, with different purposes.
Going forward, when a woman was discovered who could channel, she would be brought into the tower at the rank of novice. Upon completing sufficient training, novices would be raised to the rank of Accepted. Upon even further and more rigorous training, the Accepted would have to face their final trials and, if successful, would be raised to the full rank of Aes Sedai.
At this point, the new Aes Sedai finally would have to choose a faction color aligned with her personal goals and ambitions that she wants to be a part of for the rest of her life. There are seven Ajahs that are recognized by the White Tower.
So, here are the Ajahs, explained.
Blue Ajah
The Blue Ajah is one of the most recognizable ones in the series. The Blues are involved in causes of social and political world affairs, often referred to as the seekers of justice by some. While many of the other Ajahs are content to remain in the White Tower and focus on inward goals, the Blue Ajah seek to be actively involved in the affairs of the world. If there are wars brewing or trollocs are attacking a city, the Blue network of eyes and ears are quick to let any sister know of the trouble that is occurring and where. Think of them as spies. Their Ajah is ruled as an autocratic system of sisters.
Brown Ajah
The Brown Ajah’s concentrations lie in the acquisition and maintenance of knowledge for the world, sometimes referred to as keepers of the past. They might be better understood as librarians, historians, and natural historians. They don’t deal in the physical sciences or even take on any engineering aspects of knowledge. These sisters are ruled by a council of sisters. There is no one method of system that they follow, so all sisters in this Ajah govern themselves.
Gray Ajah
The Gray Ajah deal with mediation, diplomacy, and negotiation. They are skilled in these areas and make for helpful sisters between the White Tower and other kingdoms. The idea behind this Ajah is to train sisters to be focused on negotiation and on becoming law-focused diplomats.
Green Ajah
The Green Ajah is known by many as the battle warriors. These Aes Sedai train extensively in the use of the One Power as a weapon to change the course of battles and even entire wars. It comes as no surprise that this group of women have a military hierarchy, with a head Captain General. The focus of these sisters is to prepare for Tarmon Gai’don, commonly known as the last battle, the prophesied battle that will decide the fate of the world. These sisters must be ready and trained.
Red Ajah
The Red Ajah have been given a mighty task. They are charged with preventing those who would wrongfully use the One Power. This of course means stopping and, at times, killing the men who can channel, who have been doomed to a fate of eventual madness in order to prevent the world from breaking again. However, this responsibility also allows them to prevent women from abusing the One Power, if it becomes necessary. The head of the Red Ajah is considered by most Reds to be equal to the Amyrlin Seat.
White Ajah
The White Ajah are known as the pursuers of truth and reason. They stay away from dealings with the world and worldly knowledge and instead focus on philosophy. The head of the White Ajah is known as the First Reasoner, and there is no internal structure that guides the sisters.
Yellow Ajah
The Yellow Ajah are known as seekers and studiers of healing. Many who are sick and injured go to these sisters for help to obtain cures that often would be impossible without the help of the One Power. They are among the most skilled when it comes to healing illness.
Amyrlin Seat (The Amyrlin)
While this is not an Ajah, the Amyrlin is selected by the tower of sisters. The Amyrlin is the leader of the Aes Sedai. The Amyrlin Seat is of no Ajah and belongs to all Ajahs. Her main purpose is to protect the sisters and the world from harm and govern them as wisely as possible.
Keeper of the Chronicles (The Keeper)
While not an Ajah itself, the Keeper does come from an established Ajah. She is often known as the second in command in the absence of the Amyrlin Seat.
… Another Ajah
The Black Ajah are not an officially recognized Ajah in the White Tower. Rumors have come out to say that the so-called “Black Ajah” are dark friends and have sisters of all colors of the Ajahs. There is no evidence of this, and the Amyrlin Seat has announced no sister is known to have turned to the dark side. There is no reason to believe these rumors.
