Latest news with #NewAge
Forbes
5 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Crypto: Searching For Salvation Or Scams
A psychedelic vision of crypto spirituality, where meditation meets decentralization. CoinStructive, Inc. Deep in a coastal pocket of Montenegro, fog lingers over a makeshift village where the morning stillness is broken by the sound of meditative chants, laptop keystrokes, and the occasional impromptu DAO meeting. This is Zuzalu: an ephemeral, invite-only enclave dreamed up by Ethereum's Vitalik Buterin, equal parts tech incubator and techno-spiritual crypto commune. Attendees sip mushroom tea, debate the metaphysics of decentralization, and chart a new world, one block at a time. There are no signs, no sponsors, and no set agenda. There is just the conviction that something sacred is being built. Something more than money. But these crypto enclaves are not completely fringe. They are multiplying. From jungles in Central America to Latter-Day Saints compounds in Missouri, blockchain believers are gathering for what often resembles a cross between a startup retreat, a Burning Man temple camp, and a 1970s New Age awakening. Ayahuasca ceremonies or iconoclastic rituals are paired with token launches. Yoga flows into pitch decks. And enlightenment now comes with a whitepaper. This raises an uneasy question: is this the dawn of a new techno-spiritual order, or is it just a very well-branded scam? Crypto has always attracted zealots. Not just traders or developers, but those with a near-religious belief that code can liberate humanity from corruption, surveillance, and mediocrity. Add psychedelics, utopian architecture, and a distrust of fiat reality, and you do not just get a movement. You get a 'mission.' These retreats and micro-communities, Zuzalu included, present themselves not as vacations, but as experiments in post-nation-state living. Participants pay in ETH or stablecoins, sometimes via NFTs that act as passports. Workshops oscillate between talks on zk-rollups and quantum healing. Even Ethereum itself has spiritual roots. Vitalik once mused about 'ether' as the invisible medium for decentralized connection. To some, this is not metaphor, but gospel. Crypto believers sometimes call this 'the alignment era,' or 'crypto alignment,' where code, consciousness, and capital converge. It is seen as a transitory movement designed to outgrow the old world. While it is easy to dismiss these spaces as woo-woo playgrounds for the rich and bored, sometimes, they can be tools for exploitation. Take NovaTechFX, led by a woman who called herself 'Reverend CEO.' She blended Pentecostal-style sermons with promises of 3% weekly crypto returns. The SEC called it a Ponzi scheme. By the time it collapsed, nearly $1 billion was gone. These 'sermon' tapes still circulate on YouTube. Then there is INDXcoin, a Colorado-based 'Christian crypto' that raised $3.4 million from churchgoers. Investors were promised divine favor and a safe return. What they got was an illiquid token and a founder who claimed, under oath, that God told him to launch it. Cult, Scam, or Prototype for the Future? Nevertheless, not all of these communities are fraudulent. Zuzalu is, by most accounts, earnest—idealistic, even. It birthed spin-off projects focused on digital identity, biotech, and governance. Its residents speak in a blend of code and philosophy, quoting Satoshi and Foucault in the same breath. Even the psychedelic retreats, for all their cultish aesthetics, sometimes leave attendees with genuine breakthroughs of emotional clarity, entrepreneurial direction, or otherwise. Yet, there is a case to be made that these are just the messy early chapters of what could be a new civic structure. If a nation-state was built on borders and banks, maybe a post-state emerges from wallets and vibes. But when do we start labeling these collectives as cults? Do we consider the rituals? The charismatic founders? The token-gated access? Or the certainty of an unshakeable belief that this is the path to collective salvation, and everything else is FUD? At the edge of a Zu village, one attendee lights sage over a hardware wallet. Someone else codes a smart contract barefoot in the grass. A startup founder with a shamanic tattoo explains how DAOs will replace democracy, and then invites you to a cacao ceremony. Is this a scam? A new faith? Just a very weird off-site Web3 meet-up? Maybe it is salvation. Or maybe it is a grift. Maybe, like most things in Crypto, it is both.
Sinar Daily
14-07-2025
- Sinar Daily
'The Malaysian Diddy freak-offs'? Marriage programme under fire for nude rituals
SHAH ALAM – What was marketed as a women's self-empowerment and marital motivation programme turned into something deeply disturbing. Held here in September 2024, this 'marriage motivation' event, spearheaded by a husband-and-wife team, has triggered national outrage following allegations of nude rituals, sexually charged activities and spiritual practices resembling religious deviance. Now, the authorities are stepping in. The event was alleged to have involved indecent displays and elements deemed un-Islamic. Photo: Masyitah Asyari's Facebook page The Malaysian Diddy freak-offs The core of the four-day event was a session known as the Queen Session, which attracted around 50 women. According to a former participant, the atmosphere became unsettling when the room was dimmed and the facilitators entered with romantic music playing. Several women dressed as 'Cleopatra' took the stage, followed by the programme's founder (the wife), who eventually danced naked in front of attendees. 'She invited others to join in. Many were stunned and uncomfortable,' the former participant wrote in a now-viral Facebook post. What followed was a sequence of events that reportedly resembled a cult-like initiation: Female facilitators danced provocatively and simulated intimate acts. Participants were allegedly given a strange beverage called 'Piya', said to invoke feelings of courage and desire. A symbolic ritual called 'Sacred Bath' or 'Rebirth' involved a nude woman being wiped with wet towels, allegedly representing spiritual cleansing. Attendees were instructed to discard symbolic burdens by throwing underwear and clothing onto the stage. Some participants stripped completely nude. The former participant described the ritual as a dangerous blend of New Age spiritualism and religious deviation, especially shocking in Selangor, a state with strict religious regulations. She stated that an official report with evidence had been submitted and this issue had been raised previously by education activist Cikgu Fadli Salleh, but without prior action. Police and religious authorities begin investigation Following a complaint filed in February by the husband of a participant, Shah Alam district police confirmed that an investigation was underway. Shah Alam district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim revealed that witnesses and the complainant's wife had been interviewed. Representatives from Jais (Selangor Islamic Religious Department) were present during questioning. 'We recorded statements from several witnesses who were at the scene. Anyone with information is urged to contact Shah Alam Police,' Iqbal urged. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, stated that he is aware of the public concerns. 'The approach used in the programme has caused considerable unease. I have instructed Jakim's Director-General to work closely with Jais to address this matter,' he said. Were these rituals rooted in other faiths? Some former participants claim the programme drew references from non-Islamic religious texts, including Hindu scriptures and that teachings were distributed through private Telegram channels. These allegations further fueled speculation that the programme was spreading deviant doctrines under the guise of women's self-help and marriage counselling. Reports indicated that the mysterious drink called, 'Piya' was given to participants before the bizarre rituals commenced. The drink allegedly caused altered emotional states and made attendees more vulnerable to suggestion. Politicians and religious leaders respond The programme's activities have received harsh criticism from both religious and political figures. Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari confirmed that the event had no affiliation with any state agency. 'I am concerned about the allegations. I have instructed Jais to conduct a full investigation and to take firm action if the allegations are found to be true,' he said. Jakim Director-General Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said that this joint investigation is part of an ongoing effort to curb deviant practices and the spread of harmful ideologies that contradict Islamic teachings. He added that Jakim views this matter seriously and will work with state authorities to protect morality, family harmony and the sanctity of Islamic teachings. Offers of help for affected women In a more supportive response, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has offered counselling services to women affected by the incident. Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said that their Social Welfare Department and Women's Development Division are prepared to assist. 'In cases like this, we usually mobilise counsellors. We advise women to thoroughly verify the credibility of any programme before joining,' she said. Repercussions and public outrage Public sentiment has been unforgiving. Many on social media are questioning how such a programme with nudity, ritualistic elements and sexual content could have taken place without prior scrutiny from local authorities. The fact that the event occurred at a public convention centre in Shah Alam, so close to Jais headquarters, only intensified criticism. Calls are now mounting for criminal charges, a ban on similar self-help movements and a crackdown on unregulated motivational programmes masquerading as spiritual healing or family therapy. What is Next? The founders of the event allegedly a husband-and-wife team will soon be summoned by Jais for formal questioning. Investigators are also looking into potential violations of religious law, public decency laws and whether any psychoactive substances were used. Religious authorities have urged the public to report any suspicious programmes and avoid groups not recognised by Jakim or state Islamic departments. The case also serves as a cautionary tale, especially for those seeking help for marital or emotional issues. Always verify the legitimacy of any programme, especially those involving closed-door activities, unregulated rituals, or unverified claims of transformation. As of now, no arrests have been made, but authorities assure the public that appropriate action will follow once investigations conclude.
Times
12-07-2025
- Times
Former ‘hippy' hotel is sold to Saudi businessman
For half a century its guests — derided as 'hippies' — came in search of spiritual enlightenment and inner peace. The Cluny Hill hotel, on a slope above the town of Forres in Moray, served as a retreat and learning centre for the Findhorn Foundation (FF), Scotland's biggest and best-known alternative lifestyle charity. With its faded Victorian glamour, the 76-room former spa was once dubbed 'the Vatican of the New Age'. The building, first opened as a 'hydropathic establishment' in 1876, is now to be returned to its original purpose after Abdullah Alshiddi, a 27-year-old Saudi hotelier, bought the property as the FF winds up its educational work. The estate agent Christie & Co confirmed the sale of the building, which comes with its own woodlands.
Time Business News
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Time Business News
10th July Thursday's HSC exams under madrassah, technical, Cumilla boards postponed countrywide
The authorities on Wednesday night postponed the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate examinations under the madrassah and the technical boards for Thursday due to inclement Thursday, all examinations under the Cumilla education board have been postponed for the same reason The educational institutions in these two upazilas are now being used as shelters for the flood this circumstance, the HSC exam on Thursday (July 10) under the Cumilla education board has been postponed and the date of the deferred exam will be informed later. The release mentioned that the HSC exam under eight other general boards would be held on Thursday as per Madrassah Education Board chairman Professor Miah Md Nurul Huq told New Age on Wednesday night that the madrassah board and the Bangladesh Technical Education Board postponed Thursday's exams across the country. 'As these boards are individual and we have same question papers so we have postponed the exams on Thursday,' he added. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
New Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Kitaro returns to Arena of Stars with Japanese taiko drum this September
GENTING HIGHLANDS: Legendary Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist Kitaro is set to captivate audiences once again at the Arena of Stars stage in Resorts World Genting on Sept 20. The music maestro will once again mesmerise Malaysians with his magical and timeless instrumental tunes. For over four decades, Kitaro has been a globally celebrated icon of instrumental music, known as a Grammy and Golden Globe-winning composer, musician, and producer, and a founding architect of the New Age genre. His visionary sound blends electronic artistry, traditional Japanese instrumentation, and Western melodic sensibilities, creating a lush, poetic, and meditative style that transcends cultural and musical boundaries. Kitaro's music is not only a personal expression but also a global call for peace, evidenced by his 'Love and Peace Tour', performances at the Nagano Winter Olympics, and unique collaborations such as 'Let Mother Earth Speak' with Native American activist Dennis Banks. Whether composing for film, performing at sacred sites, or releasing iconic albums like Kojiki, Kitaro continues to inspire millions worldwide. Having performed at the Arena of Stars multiple times, Kitaro has consistently enchanted Malaysian audiences with his signature soundscapes and masterful live shows – and this year's concert promises to be no exception. Attendees can look forward to an immersive experience featuring acoustic instrumentation and a traditional Japanese Taiko drum mounted on floor stands, beautifully blending ancient tradition with modern musical mastery.
