The purpose of meditation may be explained simply by saying that it is a technique to obtain internal harmony and balance. There are many different meditation techniques. There are meditations where you dance into balance. There is also zen where you empty all your thoughts or the classic meditation where you sit down in lotus position. There are those who use a mantra, music, candles or incense in their meditations to help focus their minds.
New Age is not a single world view or a religion as it is perceived by a majority of its followers. You could say that it is an attempt at unifying all spiritual aspects of humanity into a coherent whole. Many of those who are interested in New Age perceives the universe as a unity, a coherent whole, a single organism whose parts are inextricably linked and influence each other.