We are deluged on all sides, regularly with advertisments for teachings and teachers who "have made it." These people are usually depicted as people just like you and me, who have had previously "normal" lives who have had a mysterious transformation which nows makes them into media stars.
That's right. We have made a leap in our time from teachers, previously people who often lived in caves, and were renowned for their miraculous abilities as well as teaching life lessons, often of a puzzling nature, to teachers as media stars. We mark each teaching personality by how many followers he or she has as measured by their personal wealth and the numbers of engagements he or she has given at public places.

A local reporter, when we queried about whether this person had done any research on Madi Nolan said, credulously, "yes, I googled her name and saw right there that she was teaching in many places. She had been invited to teach at Humber College."

First, just googling someone's name and finding information on them is not enough to guarantee them as a credible, useful teacher. Understand how simple it is for anyone to have their name up on google, and how meaningless it is in terms of determining someone's credentials.

Second, the business of Humber College. It is true Madi Nolan gave a workshop at Humber College. That is not the same thing as Humber College asking Madi Nolan to teach! Instead, Madi and her promoters rented space at Humber College, then displayed this information as though it meant Madi had been asked to teach there.

A very instructive sleight of hand, one which we can all remember in terms of public facilities, such as Colleges, Universities and yes, community centres.

We have a local community centre which recently rented its space out for someone to come and teach "Psychic Surgery." The people who are in the business of renting this space out are not in the business of determining who or what is valid, or real, or truthful. It is a buyer beware attitude.

From these simple understandings we can learn the just because someone's name comes up on google, just because someone has taught at a local public building does not mean they are credible. Go, if you are interested, with your wallet shut tight and your mind wide open with many, many questions.

That may help prevent another Madi Nolan type experience in your life or the lives of those around you.