Joan Tollifson writes and talks about waking up from the imaginary problems and dilemmas generated by imagination and conceptual thought, and realizing what is undeniably present, beyond doubt or belief. She points to here and now, the utter simplicity of being. Joan has an affinity with Zen and Advaita, but she belongs to no formal tradition or lineage. She has lived in California, New York and Chicago, and now lives in southern Oregon. Joan is the author of two books: Awake in the Heartland: The Ecstasy of What Is (2003) and Bare-Bones Meditation: Waking Up from the Story of My Life (1996). She is currently at work (or play) on new books.