Colors have been attributed with various healing properties. But colors can also be used for psychic development. Here are some simple exercises to use colors to awaken your psychic powers.

COLOR BREATHING EXERCISE

If possible, meditate before an open window. If not, let a white electric incandescent light shine on you. If you prefer to meditate in low light or darkness, still follow these instructions using the white light as a preliminary.

Sit comfortably, relaxing the body as much as possible, without allowing the spine to curve. Following exercises can help you to loosen tight muscles:

Allow the head to fall forward on the chest. Breathe deeply in and out three times. Return to the upright position. Allow the head to tip fully backward. Breathe deeply in and out three times. Return to the upright position.

Tip the head as far as possible to the left. Breathe in and out three times. Return to the upright position. Tip the head as far as possible to the right. Breathe in and out three times. Return to the upright position.

Allow the head to fall forward, then move it in a circle, counterclockwise, three times. Repeat the last exercise, moving the head clockwise three times. Return to the upright position. Breathe in slowly and fully, through the right nostril (hold the left one closed), feeling the stomach balloon out as you do so.

Hold it a moment, then exhale slowly through the mouth, flattening the stomach. This exercise removes the stale air from the lungs.

Repeat the last exercise, breathing in slowly, through the left nostril, and exhaling through the right nostril. Both these exercises need to be done three times. Now, with your body breathing normally but deeply, concentrate your thoughts till you can imagine your whole body encased in a globe of white light. Feel the luminous energy charging your whole body. After a few moments, visualise the light gradually turning to red. As it turns red, see it acquire a cone shape, the tip directing at your perineum chakra (Muladhar).

As you continue to breathe deeply, see and feel the red light flow into the perineum area. When you feel that you have absorbed all that you can, see the all-encompassing globe of white return. Next, let the white give way to a cone of orange.

The point of the cone is directed at the suprarenal (Swadhisthan). Again, as you breathe deeply, feel the orange light pour down the cone into your whole body. Continue working through all the chakras, drawing all their respective colours into you. End with the all-encompassing white light.

If you find it difficult to envision the different colours, set up a chart where you can see them in front of you. A glance at the chart sets the required colour in your mind. You will now enter a state of deep meditation. You will experience tremendous peace of mind.

If you prefer to meditate in dim light, draw the blinds over the window or switch off the white light. At the end of the meditation period, before returning to the original state, imagine yourself encompassed in the globe of white light.

It is recommended that loose clothing be worn during meditation—such as a CM (color meditation) robe. We have learnt about the association of colors with the chakras and the desirability of stimulating these colours/chakras.

This can be accomplished simply by wearing a robe designed for color meditation. Any refinement in shape can be made to suit your whims, but do not make it tight. The material should be pure white.

In addition, you need a loose head-covering of the same color. This hat should come down to cover the space between the eyes, where the third eye is located. Roll up the front portion of the robe and cut large circles (six inches in diameter) to coincide with the chakra positions.

Fill in these holes with circles of coloured material (same material as the robe. Prefer silk although linen would do as well). The colours corresponding to the chakra colors/positions are: red for the perineum (Muladhar chakra); orange for the suprarenal (Swadhisthan).

The color yellow is for the lyden (Manipura); green for the thymus (Heart/Anahata); blue for the thyroid (Vishuddha).The color indigo for the pineal (Ajna/third eye) (on the hat point); and violet for the pituitary or crown (Sahasrara).

Do not sew the coloured circles on to the uncut robe. Cut out the white circles first, so that the colored circles go right through. You can later use the cut white circles as a pattern for the colored robe.

An alternative to the circles is to use whole bands of color going right around the robe. Avoid wearing anything underneath the CM robe to eliminate any interference between the colors and the body.