Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

Sacred cactus under threat of “psychedelic renaissance”

Published 19 January 2025
– By Editorial Staff
4 minute read

The peyote cactus has been considered a sacred medicinal plant by local cultures in North America since ancient times. However, the plant is now said to be under threat of overexploitation mainly due to its growing popularity and a renaissance in the West for psychedelic drugs, where the peyote cactus has gone far beyond its traditional contexts.

Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a succulent plant in the cactus family. The blue-green cactus grows naturally in the southwestern United States and down to central Mexico. It contains several alkaloids, including the hallucinogenic substance mescaline. The plant is slow-growing and can take up to thirty years to flower, but if allowed to thrive it can live for over a hundred years. In Sweden, the plant is legal to grow, but not to cultivate or extract mescaline from. Due to its psychoactive properties, the plant is completely banned from possession in the United States.

At the same time, for over 2 000 years, peyote has been used in religious and ceremonial contexts and for its medicinal properties, as has the closely related San Pedro cactus (Trichocereus pachanoi), originally named by the Inca as Wachuma but later named after St. Per, San Pedro, in adaptation to the Spanish Christianization of the region.

Peyote cactus has been used ceremonially and medicinally mainly by indigenous tribes in North America, including the Huichol, an indigenous people in Mexico. In 1994, an exemption was created in the United States in the form of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, which made it legal to use, possess and even transport peyote for traditional religious purposes.

For example, the Native American Church (NAC) is a syncretic religious movement in the United States which, in accordance with this legislation, combines traditional indigenous beliefs with elements of Christianity. It is particularly strongly associated with the Peyote, and has sometimes even been referred to as “Peyotism”. Around 400,000 people are estimated to be affiliated with NAC in some form today.

According to the NAC, there is a story of an Apache woman who fell behind her group during a forced removal by the US government under the Indian Removal Act in the 1830s. The woman was dehydrated, malnourished and near death, but just as she was about to give up, she heard the peyote speak to her and, according to the story, she survived and then took the plant to the Apache medicine men and elders, who began to meditate and pray with it.

– It gave us hope and helped us process our thoughts, emotions and life purpose, Adrian Primeaux, who is from the Yankton Sioux and Apache tribe, explains to AP News.

Described as sacrament

Frank Dayish, former vice president of the Navajo Nation and chairman of the Council of the Peyote Way of Life Coalition, compares peyote to communion as a sacrament in Christianity.

– Peyote is my religion, he says. Everything in my life has been based on prayers through that sacrament.

In both NAC and Huichol’s culture, the plant is considered a bridge between the human and spiritual worlds. In the NAC, peyote is typically consumed during sacred night ceremonies in a hogan, a traditional Navajo building, or a teepee. The ritual usually begins around eight o’clock in the evening and includes prayer, singing and sacramental consumption of peyote. The effect of mescaline lasts for ten to twelve hours and is said to induce spiritual or philosophical insights as well as visual experiences. The ritual ends in the morning with a communion breakfast.

Since 1846, the official Mexican pharmacopoeia has also recommended the use of peyote extract in microdoses as a tonic for the heart. The plant is also used medicinally to relieve fever, healing of wounds, bone fractures and rheumatism. At the same time, according to WebMD, there is currently limited scientific documentation on the medicinal properties of the plant.

Overexploitation

Over the past two decades, there have been concerns about the lack of availability of peyote, pointing out that illegal and excessive harvesting threatens the species and has destroyed significant parts of its sensitive habitat. Members of the Native American Church say the situation has worsened as new groups use it in health rituals.

In Mexico, the peyote is said to have been overexploited to the point that it is now classified as critically endangered and there is now a heated debate about whether the peyote should be cultivated outside its natural habitat. Scientists argue that cultivation is necessary to protect the species, while the NAC believes it would weaken the plant’s sacred position, with many members of the NAC considering the plant’s habitat to be of great importance. Hershel Clark, Secretary of the Teesto Chapter of the Azee Bee Nahagha of Diné Nation in Arizona, believes that the ceremonial protocols they follow were given by the grace of the Creator and have been preserved in their storytelling.

– That’s why we don’t support greenhouses, growing it outside its natural habitat or synthesizing it to make pills, he says.

At the same time, many also advocate for the decriminalization of the cactus among other things to facilitate its cultivation. Particularly in Western countries, psychedelic substances, also known as entheogens, such as psilocybin, have gained strong recognition with a surge in research into the treatment of mental disorders such as depression. In Australia, for example, MDMA and psilocybin were approved for medical use last year. In Brazil, research has also been conducted on the traditional drink ayahuasca, based on Amazonian plants, and its effects on depression. Indigenous people in the Amazon region of Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador have used the drink for therapeutic and spiritual purposes since ancient times.

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YouTubers invest in their own businesses – ad revenues are unpredictable

Published 6 October 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has the world's largest YouTube channel with 442 million subscribers.
2 minute read

More and more YouTube personalities are reducing their dependence on ad revenue and brand partnerships and instead building their own business empires. The reason is that advertising income is unpredictable and can disappear overnight when the platform changes its policies.

YouTube has evolved into a gigantic platform that has contributed over $55 billion to the US GDP and created more than 490,000 full-time jobs. But despite the platform’s success, many of the most successful content creators have realized that it’s risky to rely solely on ad revenue, writes TechCrunch.

Many of the biggest channels have now transformed into vertically integrated media companies with product lines, physical stores and consumer brands that can survive algorithm changes. In several cases, these side businesses are growing faster than the YouTube channels themselves.

MrBeast leads the development

Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast with 442 million subscribers, is the platform’s most aggressive entrepreneur. His chocolate brand Feastables generated around $250 million in revenue in 2024 with over $20 million in profit – significantly more profitable than his YouTube content which lost approximately $80 million the same year. The first product sold over one million units and generated more than $10 million within 72 hours.

Donaldson also runs the food brand Lunchly, the toy series MrBeast Lab, the burger concept MrBeast Burger and the analytics platform Viewstats. Now he plans to establish his own mobile network.

Coffee and energy drinks as goldmine

Emma Chamberlain, with over 12 million subscribers, launched her coffee brand Chamberlain Coffee in 2019. In 2023, the brand reached approximately $20 million in revenue and in January opened its first physical store. Revenue is expected to grow by over 50 percent in 2025 and reach more than $33 million.

Logan Paul created the energy drink Prime together with KSI, which surpassed $1.2 billion in sales in 2023. However, sales have declined sharply, particularly in the United Kingdom where revenue fell by approximately 70 percent between 2023 and 2024.

Children’s audience and beauty products

Ryan’s World, hosted by 13-year-old Ryan Kaji, has expanded its brand through toys and clothing that reportedly generated over $250 million in revenue in 2020.

Within the beauty industry, Michelle Phan has founded the subscription service Ipsy and the makeup brand EM Cosmetics, while Huda Kattan built Huda Beauty which generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Other well-known makeup brands from YouTube influencers include Jeffree Star Cosmetics and Tati Beauty, showing that the beauty industry continues to be an attractive area for content creators who want to build their own business empires.

Six kilos of medieval silver treasure found in Stockholm

Published 19 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The silver coins have been dated to the 12th century and were likely minted when Knut Eriksson was king of Sweden.
2 minute read

A private individual has discovered a significant silver treasure from medieval times. The treasure, which could likely be one of the largest ever found, contains among other things up to 20,000 coins from the 12th century.

The silver treasure was discovered by a person digging for worms just outside Stockholm, Sweden, who contacted the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen). It was found in a copper cauldron and contained approximately six kilos of silver coins, pendants, pearls and silver rings.

This is probably one of the largest silver treasures from the early medieval period that has been found in Sweden. We don’t yet know exactly how many coins there are, but I believe it could be up to 20,000. Most of the objects are well preserved, but unfortunately the copper cauldron they were stored in is not as well preserved, says Sofia Andersson, who is an antiquarian at the Stockholm County Administrative Board, in a press release.

The silver coins have been dated to the 12th century and some of the coins bear the text “KANUTUS”, which means Knut in Latin – indicating they are from the time of Knut Eriksson’s reign as king of Sweden.

Three types of coins found in the treasure: KANUTUS coins, Gotland coins and bishop coins. Photo: Stockholm County Administrative Board

The treasure also contains some rare bishop coins, which were coins manufactured in Europe by bishops. These coins feature a bishop holding a crosier in his right hand. Lin Annerbäck, head of the Medieval Museum in Stockholm, describes the treasure as unique and believes it can tell us much about Sweden’s history.

It is completely unique, we have no other medieval treasures from Stockholm. And then it also appears to be extremely large. So it’s very exciting. she tells the Swedish newspaper DN.

The location where the treasure was found is currently being kept secret due to the risk of illegal treasure hunters. Archaeologists will further examine the site and the treasure as well as evaluate it.

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel suspended after Kirk monologue

Published 18 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Jimmy Kimmel together with Kamala Harris (D) in June 2024.
3 minute read

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel has been suspended from US television network ABC after controversial statements about the murder of Charlie Kirk. The decision has sparked strong reactions in both American politics and the entertainment industry.

ABC has decided to pause the talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely. The background is a monologue where Kimmel questioned the White House’s official version of the motive behind the murder of right-wing profile Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel suggested that the perpetrator could be linked to the Trump movement, rather than the radical left, and accused the president’s allies of “scoring political points” from the murder.

The Maga Gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.

The comment sparked immediate backlash. Brendan Carr, head of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), threatened ABC with action and argued that Kimmel’s words undermine public trust.

Shortly thereafter, the network announced that the program would be suspended until further notice. Several major stations, including Nexstar Media, followed suit and stopped broadcasts nationally.

Jokes about Trump’s grief

Jimmy Kimmel also made ironic comments about Trump’s alleged grief after the murder. Kimmel began by showing a video clip from the weekend where a reporter first asks the president how he feels after the murder.

But between all the pointing, they’re also grieving… On a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this.

After Trump responded to the reporter that he feels “very good”, he quickly shifts the conversation to talk about the construction start of the new ballroom at the White House and how beautiful it will be.

This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish, said Jimmy Kimmel.

Donald Trump: “Kimmel talentless”

Donald Trump expressed his approval of the decision on social media and called Kimmel “talentless” while commenting on the program’s “low ratings”. The White House then backed up Trump’s tone, claiming that television audiences benefited from the decision to stop Kimmel.

The announcement has simultaneously created a storm of criticism, not least from Democratic leaders.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer argues that threats against media broadcasting licenses due to satire and opinion statements constitute a serious threat to freedom of speech. Schumer compared the action to methods reminiscent of authoritarian states.

That’s what Xi does. That’s what Putin does, said Schumer.

The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel has quickly become a symbol for many of the increased political polarization in America’s media landscape.

The question of what responsibility and freedom comedians and satirists have in polarized times continues to be debated, and critics warn that the suspension risks creating a barrier between those in power and free media.

Robert Redford is dead

Published 17 September 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Robert Redford turned 89 years old.
3 minute read

Robert Redford, one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors, directors and founder of the Sundance Festival, has died at the age of 89. He passed away peacefully on September 16 at his home in Sundance, Utah — surrounded by loved ones — leaving behind an artistic legacy, an institution and a heritage in independent film that changed the film world forever.

Charles Robert Redford Jr. was born on August 18, 1936 in Santa Monica, California. His first steps into an acting career came through TV roles and theater, and he achieved widespread breakthrough with roles in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973) and All the President’s Men (1976).

He was not just a leading film actor during the 60s and 70s. Redford also transitioned into directing and producing and won an Oscar in 1980 for Best Director for the drama Ordinary People.

But perhaps his greatest lasting legacy is the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival, which he founded to promote independent filmmakers and artistic voices outside the major studio budgets. The festival became a central platform for creative filmmakers worldwide over the decades.

Reactions and tributes

Redford’s passing was confirmed by his spokesman Cindi Berger. He died peacefully in his sleep at his home surrounded by those he loved. The reactions from the film world and his close collaborators and friends are unsurprisingly extensive.

Shaped the film industry

Robert Redford’s significance is evident not only in his classic performances, but also in how he shaped the film industry. He often chose projects with moral weight, integrity and social analysis.

At the same time, he sometimes participated in productions with a clearer entertainment character, for example Spy Game (2001) and Three Days of the Condor (1975), although these films contained depth and substance.

Outside the world of film, he engaged in environmental issues, art and politics, thereby becoming a symbol of both artistic responsibility and humanity.

With Robert Redford’s passing, the film world loses an iconic voice, and the world loses a heart that loved both adventure and the quiet – the grand drama and the small, the visual and the human.

His films will continue to entertain, provoke and inspire, and his festivals and ideas will provide space for new voices long after his name has fallen silent from the silver screen.

Fact box Robert Redford

  • Born: August 18, 1936, Santa Monica, California, USA.
  • Died: September 16, 2025, Sundance, Utah, USA.
  • Age: 89 years.
  • Professions: Actor, director, producer, festival founder.

Filmography (selection)

  • Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).
  • The Sting (1973).
  • The Great Gatsby (1974).
  • All the President's Men (1976).
  • Three Days of the Condor (1975).
  • The Natural (1984).
  • Out of Africa (1985).

Direction / production (selection)

  • Ordinary People (1980) — directorial debut and Oscar for best director.
  • A River Runs Through It (1992).
  • The Horse Whisperer (1998).

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