A number of years back a friend remarked how unusual my choice of the law was as a career path for me. It's not that he thought there was anything wrong with the law. Only that it didn't seem to fit me, that he saw me more as a healer or teacher than hired gun.

We come into 3D world to create the lives we need, but no one teaches us how to do that. Perhaps in those moments we think the one we've created doesn't feel so right, it might help to consider just what we've gotten ourselves into.

As we look at our lives from an energetic perspective, we can see that the path to where we are today is the result of a complex blend of forces, each interacting upon the others to steer us down the road of life.

Q: You speak often about our lives bringing experiences needed by our souls. How can I know what my soul is trying to get out of this life, and how it fits into the bigger picture of its evolution?

A: Great question. To put this life into context, it helps to step back from the energies of the moment and consider what you know about yourself through your observations on this life.

What patterns have played out so far? What kind of challenges have you created? Did you accept them willingly? Did you go kicking and screaming? Were they thrust upon you?

This is a time of great tumult in our political affairs. Not only do Democrats and Republicans spare no effort to weaken each other's bid for power, but others have gotten into the act as well.

The Tea Party gives voice to a long-festering dissatisfaction among the people with their government. They speak (often loudly) against the rapidly-growing deficits that are exploding our national debt, and the disconnect between our leaders (and the government they head) and the people they serve.

Let's continue this morning's post. If you want to change the world, first you must change the collective consciousness that creates it.

How do we change consciousness?

After all, we cannot force change upon anyone, not even ourselves. It can only come from within. That within starts with us and the beliefs, perspectives and practices we bring to our lives.

The mass consciousness is creating troublesome dramas that are causing many to give up hope that they can create a life that serves them, much less impact the direction of our common affairs more to their liking.

Reality sure is doing its best to knock us down. The question is, when it beats and batters us into submission, will we get back up? And if we do, will we keep going the same old way or try something else?

The oil spill in the Gulf is but one example as it wakes us from our slumber to face head on our refusal to recognize our interconnectedness with the planet of which we're part. No longer can we ignore the fact that we're part of this giant eco-system, and if we destroy it, we are destroying ourselves as well.

Lives have been lost; countless more are disrupted. Unforeseen possibilities too horrible to imagine are working their way into our awareness, and bringing with them greater probability for manifestation in our world.

Funny how we all long for the good times, when everything falls in place and life works just the way we want it to. Times like these are what we live for -- or are they?

To those who use life to know themselves and what they're about, maybe not. Because for as good as those moments feel, they're like the icing on the cake -- something to be savored and appreciated, but get too much of it and our taste buds go on overload and we have to turn away from the sweetness so they can reset themselves.

Lawyers. We love to hate them, don’t we?

Well, get out your rotten tomatoes. Because I’m one of them. So hate me, too. Lord knows I hated myself when I behaved in ways I wasn’t proud of.

What is the link between spirituality and peace? I'm not sure either can exist without the other.

Spirituality tries to explain our relationship to source and what our lives are all about. Peace is the condition that comes from knowing and experiencing it at a cellular level, and allowing it to spill over to our outer lives.