To begin the Svadhisthana meditation, find a comfortable position with your back straight. Close your eyes and begin breathing yogically. Breathe deeply through your nose without separation between inhalation and exhalation and feel yourself relaxing. Take your time and become conscious of your body by following your breath for about five minutes. After five minutes, bring your attention to your second chakra, right above your sexual organs. Then bring your breath to your second chakra. On each inhalation, feel the energy centered in your sexual organs increasing. You will feel it as a heat and intensity that will grow stronger on each inhalation. As it grows stronger, visualize the energy there as a ball of orange energy. Experience and visualize it growing stronger and brighter for about two or three minutes.

Next, feel your consciousness move downward until it reaches a point just above your sexual organs and feel your consciousness centered in that ball of energy. Become the ball of energy and feel yourself begin to radiate outward from that center through your body and then into the outer environment. Feel the magic and the sense of wonder that is a manifestation of the energy that radiates from the second chakra. Pay attention to how you feel physically, emotionally, and mentally. Some of you may feel spontaneous bursts of energy running up and down your spine or through your body. These are called kriyas in Sanskrit. They are normal; enjoy them. You might feel as if a warm current of energy or vibrations are flowing through your body. These sensations are associated with an increased energy flow. Pay attention to the changes you experience—observe them, but don't try to influence them. After a short time you will begin to experience imagery associated with the second chakra. Some of it might be sexual at first, but if you don't identify with it or get attached to it, the sexual imagery will pass and be replaced with pictures associated with the creative process.

Take at least ten minutes for this part of the meditation. After about ten minutes or when you are satisfied, take a deep breath through your nose and as you exhale mentally repeat, "Every time I come to this level of consciousness I learn to use more of my mind in more creative ways." Then let your breathing return to normal, release the ball of energy by your second chakra and the imagery associated with it and mentally return to the room and relax.

After a few moments, begin to count mentally from one to five and when you reach the number five, open your eyes. You will feel wide awake, perfectly relaxed, and better than you did before.

Excerpted from Chakra Therapy, by Keith Sherwood