How do you meditate and does it work?

Usually to reach a deep state of meditation you use a mantra. Which is a word that makes you comfortable, a name, place, object. Anything, you could use “Buddha” for example. Saying the word repetitively will induce a sort of trance and eventually you will be saying it with no effort or realization that the word is being spoken. Eventually you will enter a deep state of seclusion within your mind. At that point meditation will begin, meditation can become very intense. I meditate quite regularly and through it I have seen visions, or calmly reflected on life, through which I have come to many realizations. My recommendation on where to meditate would just be somewhere that relaxes you and makes you the most comfortable. For me I usually meditate outside when it’s dark during warmer months, and inside my room with the lights off, usually with candles or incense lit when it gets to be colder. It usually helps when you are first starting to meditate to be somewhere very quiet. As you progress low playing instrumental music can help induce the trance like state. Hope this helps! Good luck with meditation.