1 st Chakra: Base Chakra:
Ancient name: Muladhara
...resonating to the colour red.

The base of the spine is home to the first chakra. It is the foundation of the whole system, has the slowest vibration of all and is associated with the earth element. It relates to our basic needs in life....i.e., security, sense of belonging, roots within society and family, confidence, self awareness and the monetary and material existence necessary for our survival, shelter, warmth etc.
The base chakra also provides us with the crucial connection with Mother Earth and nature, grounding us in our often turbulent lives. If we are not 'earthed' we become isolated and we cannot grow and flourish without this stability and nourishment.
The base chakra is associated with:
The adrenals, bones, teeth, large intestines, rectum and nails.
How to work with this Chakra:
Use hematite and garnet.
Get outside, take in the wonders of mother nature, get your hands dirty in the garden. Group relationships are important here: contact family, get together with your friends.
Wear and work with red.

2nd Chakra: Sacral Chakra:
Ancient name: Svadhisthana
....resonating to the colour orange.

As we rise from the solid, secure base chakra and enter the fluid second chakra we experience change. Water is the element of this chakra. As individuals we become aware of others on an intimate one to one level. We accept our differences and long to unite to overcome our separateness.
Consciousness thrives on change; we are nourished by our experiences and begin to grow and develop spiritually and emotionally. The sacral chakra is the root of pleasure, desire, self-respect, sexuality and creativity within relationship.
The sacral chakra is associated with:
The ovaries, testicles, reproductive system, bladder, kidneys and all the fluids of the body.
How to work with this Chakra:
Use carnelian.
Go with the flow and allow change to happen. Water is the key. Swim, take a walk on the beach, pamper yourself in the bath. One-on-one relationships are important here. Get together with a good mate. Be expressive and creative with your lover. Wear and work with orange. Paint you bedroon in it too!

3rd Chakra: Solar Plexus Chakra:
Ancient name: Manipura
....resonating to the colour yellow.

This to me is a fascinating chakra. The solar plexus is all about the relationship you have with yourself. It is the seat of self-worth, emotions, ambition, growth and will power. Do you truly value the needs of your 'self' and value and honour your own personal power? Sometimes in our busy, demanding lives we lose track of our personal values and who we really are! We are so wrapped up in what others expect of us and how they see us!
The element of this chakra is fire. It is the centre where we balance our inner needs amongst the external demands of life. This is where we are shaped and formed as individuals.
The solar Plexus is associated with:
The solar plexus chakra is associated with the pancreas, stomach, liver, gall bladder, spleen and small intestine.
How to work with this Chakra:
Use Citrine.
Citrine is also used in crystal healing as the 'happy' stone, to lift mood and depression. The centre of self, the relationship you have with yourself. Allow your true self to show, follow your own path and not what others want of you. If you have an open fire at home, write down the things you want to let go of on pieces of paper: emotions, experiences that are wasting your energy on and throw them on the fire. Watch them burn and go. Allow transformation. If not, light candles and verbalise the things you want to let go of. Wear and work with yellow.

4th Chakra: Heart Chakra:
Ancient name: Anahata
...resonating to the colour green.

We have now reached the centre of the chakra system. The heart chakra is of course the chakra relating to aspects of true, unconditional love. Not only the ability to love oneself and to love and nurture others, but also to allow ourselves to be loved and nurtured. Through the heart chakra we become aware of, and embrace love, on a deeper and larger universal scale.
For instance, when we hear of a tragic incident on the other side of the world and we are deeply affected by the news! Our hearts reach out and we are in touch with the energy of universal love. This chakra is the seat of healing, compassion and forgiveness. Its element is air.
The heart chakra is associated with:
The thymus gland, heart, skin and circulatory system.
How to work with this Chakra:
Use Green adventurine, malachite, peridot.
The element is air. Get out in it ! Walk in the park, climb a hill, take the dog for a walk. Feel fresh air on your face. Take deep breaths, fill your lungs. Do a kind gesture without demanding anything in return. Let love flow, go arround and come arround. Wear and work with green.

5th Chakra: Throat Chakra:
Ancient name: Visuddha
...resonating to the colour light blue.

The throat chakra is the centre controlling, creating, transmitting and receiving communication.
Sound vibrations created enable self-expression, both within ourselves and with others. Communication is connection through listening, singing, speaking, writing, chanting, telepathy and the arts.
This is the centre of creativity and acceptance of change. The element associated with this chakra is Ether. Through this chakra we become aware of the deeper harmonics in the subtle vibrations of the etheric realms.
The throat chakra is associated with:
The thyroid and parathyroid glands, the lungs, throat, voice and neck.
How to work with this Chakra:
Use turquoise, blue lace agate, blue topaz.
Express whats in your heart. Communiction is connection. As new born babies we learn't to communicte with the world arround us. Communication is not just talking. Listen. Sing more. Send emails, write poetry. Be creative. Do
a painting class...go on ! Wear and use pale blue.

6th Chakra: Third Eye Chakra:
Ancient name: Ajna
...resonating to the colour dark blue.

This chakra relates to our inner-knowing and spirituality. The third eye is in reality made up of three chakras...the brow, relating to the pineal gland, (situated just above the bridge of the nose), the alta-major (below the left ear lobe) and the crown chakra. Although, sometimes, the third eye is thought of as being only the brow chakra. It is an etheric organ of psychic perception. Many people who meditate concentrate on the third eye in order to go within. It relates to our dreams, inner-visions, inner-sight and intuition. The 6th chakra is the gateway to our inner-world and through it we develop self-reliance and balance. We use our senses to take in the world around us and our Third Eye to observe the effect it has had on our inner world.
The third eye chakra is associated with:
the pituitary gland, brain, face, eyes, nose, sinus and hearing ability.
How to work with this Chakra:
Use lapis lazuli, sodalite.
The gateway to our inner spirituality, our inner light and sight. A place to discover aspects of yourself that are unknown to others. Develop and trust your psychic sence. Remember your dreans when you first wake, jot them down, however jumbled they may seem. Go through them again when you are more awake. Can you see or feel their meaning? Wear and work with dark blue.

7th Chakra: Crown Chakra:
Ancient name: Sahasrara
.. .resonating to the colour violet.

The 7th and final main chakra is located at the top of the head, about two inches above the centre of the skull. Each chakra is symbolised as a lotus flower, each with a different number of petals. This chakra is known as the "Thousand Petalled Lotus", because it is the totality of enlightenment.
While the brow chakra is the centre of inner spirituality, the crown chakra is the centre of 'cosmic' consciousness and knowing. The seat of enlightenment! The fundamental element of this chakra is 'thought'. Consciousness is a force; we are made up of it, surrounded by it, are part of it, but we do not create it: it is a matter of opening ourselves up to it by tapping into it. The crown chakra is a link with the higher-self, and it spins fastest of all the chakras.
T he crown chakra is associated with:
All the chakras, but especially with the pineal gland and the third eye.
How to work with this Chakra:
Use amethyst.
Centre of cosmic conciousness, centre of thought. Trust your inner knowing. Send wishes and thoughts to those you love.No words required, just think it and they will feel it. Clear you mind of clutter, meditate. Give yourself time to be. You never know someone might be sending you lovely thoughts too, if you only allow time and space for them to get to you ! Reach out to others arround the world. Strangers in crisis. Make contact with universal conciousness. Wear and work with purple.