In the Visuddha meditation you will get in touch with the joy that is a manifestation of the transforming quality of the fifth chakra. To begin the Visuddha 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 about five minutes, bring your attention to your fifth chakra at your throat. Then bring your breath to the fifth chakra. On each inhalation feel the energy centered in your throat growing stronger. You will feel it as a heat and intensity. Visualize the energy there as a ball of blue light. Experience and visualize it growing stronger and brighter for about two or three minutes.

Feel your consciousness move downward until it is centered in the ball of energy. Then become the ball of energy and feel yourself radiating outward from that center through your body and then into the outer environment. Feel yourself in your fearless character…noble and full of courage; experiencing the integrity of choosing yourself at every moment. Feel an inner affirmation coming through you—an affirmation that says "yes" to life at every moment. The m ore you are centered in your throat, the more triumphant you will feel. Without diminishing anyone else, your life will be victorious at every moment.

If you wish, you can mentally repeat the affirmation, "At last I am free" over and over to yourself. As you experience your victory on all levels of causation simultaneously, you will feel streams of energy shooting up your spine. As they pass your throat chakra, they will become currents of unconditional joy. Accept your victory. By doing so, you will be fulfilling your Dharma by being yourself completely at every moment.

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 from your fifth 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