The Gravity of the Past
Creative Inquiry into the Law Series
with Morgan Wells
Online via Zoom
Gravity is the force that attracts objects toward one another in proportion to their mass. It holds the planets in orbit and us to the ground. Gravity is also the term we use to refer to something that is serious or weighty. This talk will discuss how the past operates as the center of identity that pulls us in, and explore the consequences of this magnetism, particularly in the context of incarceration. Our criminal justice system assigns an identity to incarcerated persons by telling a story that binds them to a specific context. We will investigate how loosening these tethers to the past can help us pursue a more rehabilitative approach.
Morgan Wells (she/her) is the Executive Director of Center for Creative Inquiry and a Professor of Practice at University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
Instructor
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Morgan WellsExecutive Director
Morgan Wells (she/her) is the executive director of CCI. She is a practitioner of TSK and also identifies as a secular, engaged Mahayana Buddhist. Morgan has studied extensively with Jack Petranker and other senior students of Tarthang Tulku since 2007. She completed the Nyingma Institute’s Path & Practices of Liberation program (1,200 hours) in 2010 and Four-Month Human Development Training Retreat (638 hours) in 2014. She has also supported Jack Petranker in developing Full Presence Mindfulness since its inception in 2017. Morgan is a lecturer and academic program director at University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, teaching introductory courses in U.S. law and legal systems and scholarly writing. Morgan is also an adoring parent of twin girls alongside her husband, Kevin.
