Opening and clearing the chakras is easy, and an effective way to bring peace, health and happiness into your life.   There are many methods, and as with anything else, you should always work with what you are most comfortable with.   Here we will cover some common and easy methods for opening and clearing your chakras.  ~ Meditation and Visualization ~   Prepare a space, you can do this exercise lying down or sitting, whatever you choose, make sure you are comfortable and that you will be free from distractions.   You can play soft music, light some incense and some candles, the main key here is to RELAX. Breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, clear you mind of any scattered thoughts. Focus on your body and the way it feels, and slowing begin to relax each part of it from your toes to the tip top of your head. Once you are fully relaxed, turn your attention inwards, and "unzip". This is when you open your chakras for visualization exercises. Imagine a white light come down from above your head and as it reaches down you can see each chakra.  You may choose any image you like to represent each chakra, some picture a wheel of the color that corresponds to that chakra spinning clockwise. Some picture a beautiful flower blooming, some just picture a glowing light in that area.  You might notice that some/all of your chakras seem dirty or dingy in color, this mean they are blocked and need to be cleared. Visualize your root chakra, if it is blocked or dirty, visualize it clearing with each breath you exhale, see the beautiful red begin to return and glow brightly within. Once you have it glowing steady, begin to spin it clockwise, not too fast, not to slow, just at a nice steady pace, keep spinning it and now picture the light beginning to spread, flowing outwards and reaching every tip of your body. Let it fill every fiber of your being, let it envelope you in its warmth, and feel the peace, happiness and health it is bringing to you, immediately. You will feel secure and comfortable Once you are ready move up to the next chakra. Clear any blocks and visualize it gorgeous orange, let it begin to glow brightly. Once it is glowing steady, begin to spin it, nice and steady. Continue this steady pace, and let the glowing light flow out, reaching every tip of you body. Let it heal you, bring you happiness and peace. Continue up with each chakra, yellow, green, blue, indigo and finally violet. You might notice that some seem easier to clear than others, but with time and practice this will go away. Once you have completed clearing and spinning you chakras, fill yourself with the beautiful white light of the Divine once again. Come out of your meditation and take note of the changes you feel from it. After a few weeks of practice you will begin to notice when it they are becoming blocked. By this time you will begin to see the positive changes in your life. The meditation exercises will become like second nature and you will reap the benefits of them.   Here are some links to some Chakra Meditations: (they will open in a new window)   http://www.alternativeculture.com/spirit/chakras.htm   http://users.aol.com/MuseforU/chakramd.html       ~ Stone and Crystals ~   Some choose to charge minerals and/or gemstones for each chakra.  Since each chakra has several different types of gemstones and minerals, this is another simple effective way of working with chakras. Choose and cleanse an appropiate stone for each chakra. While holding each stone, visualize it filling with healing energy for that chakra. If it's a chakra that you have problems with, the stone will need to be cleansed and recharged often. Keep them in a special place on your altar, or a desktop or shelf where you can see and feel the energy. Or make a small bag for them and carry them with you!   ~ Affirmations ~   Since each chakra governs different aspects of our emotional and physical bodies, affirmations can be a simple and effective way of clearing and keeping them balanced. For example those who have trouble with receiving love can focus on the heart chakra. Affirm to yourself throughout the day that you are deserving to receive love. Write it on a green piece of paper, or with green marker and hang it where you will see it.    ~ Sound ~   Each chakra has a sound that is corresponds to its vibration. But making these sounds, you can align and clear your chakras.   They are as follows: (note that:  a is pronounced ahh and m is pronounced mng )   Root / Red / Lam   Spleen / Orange / Vam   Solar Plexus / Yellow / Ram   Heart / Green / Yam   Throat / Blue / Ham   Third Eye / Indigo / Om or Aum   Crown / Violet / Ng