Supermodel Christie Brinkley's Harrowing Heli-Skiing Accident and the Healing Power of Chimayo Dirt
Supermodel Christie Brinkley posits that a mysterious substance, dubbed 'magic dirt', potentially played a role in her survival from the near-fatal 1994 helicopter accident.
In a stark reminder of life's fragility, supermodel Christie Brinkley shares her near-death experience from a helicopter crash during a skiing trip in 1994, along with insights into her beauty secrets.
A Second Chance at Life
The iconic model admits that she remains grateful for a second chance at life after the horrifying incident in Colorado's San Juan Mountain range. In her new memoir, "Uptown Girl," Brinkley recounts the chilling details of the mishap.
The Power of Miracles
Prior to the tragic event, Brinkley had visited the Santuario de Chimayo in New Mexico, a holy site revered for its healing properties. She shared that she carried a handful of the sacred dirt from Chimayo on the fateful day of the crash as a spiritual safeguard.
In an interview with Digital, Brinkley revealed her apprehension before boarding the helicopter, feeling a strange premonition. Knowing that the precious dirt was in her possession, she whispered a prayer, hoping the magic of Chimayo would protect her and her companions.
Christie's Memoir
In her memoir, Brinkley writes, "I went to the Santuario de Chimayó, north of Sante Fe, and fell in love with the hope and miracles emanating from that tiny sanctuary tucked into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where the Pueblo Indians believe the golden soil inside can protect anyone who touches it."
In the excerpt obtained by Digital, she reminisces about the day of the crash and her desperate attempts to keep her daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, in her thoughts. When the helicopter plummeted, Brinkley's focus was solely on her daughter, repeating her name like a mantra, praying for their survival.
The Wreckage
During the crash, the helicopter cabin was ripped apart, and the group suffered injuries. Amazingly, everyone miraculously survived, leading investigators to describe the survival as "nothing short of a miracle."
Enduring PTSD
Despite her survival, Brinkley struggled with PTSD from the shock of the crash. In an interview with Digital, the model admitted that holding her daughter after the trauma felt like a victory, despite the ongoing emotional battles.
A Life-Changing Experience
The near-death experience prompted Brinkley to reassess her life and priorities. She began treating her body with kindness, adopting a vegetarian diet before transitioning to a vegan lifestyle a year ago. Brinkley embraces a vibrant, diverse diet, which she affectionately refers to as her "rainbow diet."
The supermodel expressed gratitude for her second chance at life and emphasized, "I treat myself to good nutrition. There's no denying myself anything."
Sources:
[1] Santuario de Chimayó. (n.d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Santuario-de-Chimayo
[2] Molina, M. (2021). The Power of Miracle Dirt: The Santuario de Chimayó in New Mexico. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/power-miracle-dirt-santuario-de-chimayo-new-mexico-180974305/
[3] Trimble, T., & Mefford, A. (2010). Santa Fe: An Intimate Guide. Lonely Planet.
- Christie Brinkley, recalling her near-death experience from a helicopter crash during a skiing trip in 1994, shares in her new memoir, "Uptown Girl," that she had visited the Santuario de Chimayo in New Mexico prior to the mishap, carrying a handful of the sacred dirt as a spiritual safeguard.
- In her memoir, Brinkley expresses her appreciation for the healing properties of Chimayo, stating, "I went to the Santuario de Chimayó, north of Sante Fe, and fell in love with the hope and miracles emanating from that tiny sanctuary tucked into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains."
- During the helicopter crash, Brinkley reminisces in the memoir excerpt obtained by Digital, that her focus was solely on her daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, repeating her name like a mantra, hoping the miracle of Chimayo would protect them both.
- The iconic model admits in her memoir that she remains grateful for a second chance at life after the horrifying incident, leading her to reassess her life and priorities. As a result, Brinkley embraces a vibrant, diverse diet, which she affectionately refers to as her "rainbow diet."
- Following the near-death experience, Brinkley reveals in an interview with Digital that she treats herself to good nutrition, expressing, "I treat myself to good nutrition. There's no denying myself anything."
