We have seven chakras--energy centers--in our bodies that help to give us radiant vitality and health when they are in balance. But if one gets low or out of whack, we can feel depressed, lethargic, or even become ill.

One nurturing and effective way to feed our chakras--to make sure they stay vibrant and energized--is with color. All you have to do to is look around at the natural world, or use your imagination. It’s easy to do color therapy for the health of our bodies, minds, and spirits. Here’s how:

To feed your chakras, start with the Higher Self, the 8th chakra located about 8 inches above your head. Then go one by one down the lower chakras as you are ready. Use words (unspoken or aloud) to open one chakra at a time, allowing it to drink in the color. (You may find that, if your eyes lock onto a particular color--like the bright yellow of a spring tulip, for example--that this is a sign that the chakra associated with that color really needs it. When you’ve had enough of the color, you may find that your concentration dims--an indication that you can move on to the next chakra.

White to the Higher Self (8th chakra): Look at a white cloud or white stone (quartz is perfect). Imagine complete purity, while bringing your awareness to the place 8 inches above your head where the Higher Self resides.

Violet or purple to the crown (7th chakra): Look at a ripe plum, an amethyst, or a purple flower (irises are perfect). If there is no natural purple nearby, visualize light filtering down through purple stained glass into your crown chakra.

Indigo or cobalt to the brow (6th chakra): A night sky full of stars, or the sky just before dawn, are good for this chakra, as are stones such as lapis lazuli, sapphire, and azurite. If you hold a stone and gaze at it, you will also absorb the healing energies of the stone. Eating blueberries is a great way to absorb blue internally!

Sky blue to the throat (5th chakra): Imagine your throat filling up with the blue of the daylight sky. Helpful stones include aquamarine, turquoise, Larimar, and blue tourmaline.

Leaf green to the heart (4th chakra): The budding green leaves of early spring is perfect for this chakra. In winter, look at a vibrant potted plant or imagine the new green foliage. Or look at--and then eat!--a Granny Smith apple!

Yellow to the solar plexus (3rd chakra): Imagine the bright yellow sun in your solar plexus, energy radiating out from its yellow center, clearing and healing as it goes. Or look at yellow flowers--lilies or tulips, for instance--or a banana. Helpful stones include yellow tourmaline, celestite, kunzite, topaz, and rhodonite.

Orange to the navel (2nd chakra): Imagine dried tree sap or the honey-colored wood found on the inside of tree bark--or petrified wood with dark orange. Pumpkins, oranges, daylilies and poppies are good to gaze at, and the stones orange calcite and carnelian are helpful.

Red to the base of the spine (1st chakra): A good red found in nature is the dirt in the American Southwest, or the red breast of a robin, or a tomato, or red apple.