Lindsay Lohan drank ayahuasca. Irreversible collapse of Antarctic glaciers has begun. Is this the End Times?

Lindsay Lohan, the actress-turned-public-train-wreck recently revealed that in order to cope with a miscarriage, she drank ayahuasca, the South American tea known for its highly psychoactive effects.

The potent plant mixture is a no-joke concoction high in N,N-Dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, which is a controlled substance here in the U.S. But in countries including Brazil, Peru and Colombia, it’s a revered shamanic medicine used to heal physical and emotional wounds and deliver spiritual insight.

In the last decade, ayahuasca has catapulted itself to Burning Man status—an indispensable rite of the “conscious community.” Ayahuasca users frequently fit the same stereotype: wide-eyed, lots of hugging, feather earrings, dreadlocks and goatees. But beyond the stereotypes, the medicine has irrefutable effects that when reduced by mainstream media, feels like an insult to the entire rainforest and the millions of healing plants (known and unknown) held within her canopy.

Today Health ran this sensational headline: “What is ayahuasca? Lindsay Lohan’s ‘cleanse’ is probably illegal, causes vomiting.” And it’s true. Sort of. Ayahuasca is illegal (but religious exemptions do allow some use in the U.S.). In my experience, it caused lots of vomiting. But I wouldn’t call it a cleanse—at least not in the sense of a lose-weight-fast gimmick. It is, for lack of a better term, a serious, hardcore spiritual experience. You don’t drink ayahuasca to lose a little weight before heading out to Coachella. And you certainly don’t drink it there to “enhance” your experience. It’s not the Master Cleanse. And it’s not a joint.

Many people think there’s not much to Lindsay Lohan these days besides the spectacle (and “Mean Girls”). But she may just be onto something with ayahausca. If it can belay her self-destructive behavior and heal some of her wounds (celebs cry too, you know), maybe it can also help other people. (That’s not to say you should hop on the next flight to the rainforest.) And now, if we’re not able to stop the impact melting glaciers is sure to have on our planet, perhaps we can at least experience a deeper clarity with the world around us (even if it’s only for a fleeting second before we’re all washed away). Of course, that doesn’t have to come by way of ayahuasca. But for many, it does.

Similar to LiLo’s reports, I also experienced what I can only compare to death while in an ayahuasca ceremony. I had to consciously say goodbye to everyone I loved. I had to let go. I had to accept the end of everything I knew and slip into everything I did not know. It was dark, confusing, and much bigger than the vocabulary describing my human experiences is limited to. It wasn’t scary as much as it was truly new. But that’s not where the real “healing” came from for me—at least, not the healing I can understand.

Shortly before my death-like experience, I saw something that is with me every day still. There, deep in the Colombian rainforest, I could see the forest as if it were inside of a X-ray machine that made everything neon rainbow striped. Colorful lines of energy connected each and every inch of the forest. From the earth up to the tree trunks to the tree leaves to the medicine men who stood guard over our sacred circle, I could see the inter-connectivity of all things. It radiated and pulsed and connected me to it all too. Perhaps this is what Lindsay experienced. Perhaps not. But it is that important reminder now as the media judges and mocks Lindsay, and as we struggle to make sense of what “irreversible collapse” to the Antarctic really means. Because we are connected to these things—in whichever way we choose to see this.

“Researchers had previously estimated that the cluster in the Amundsen Sea region of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet would last for thousands of years despite global climate change,” reports the Los Angeles Times. “But the new studies found that the loss is underway now as warming ocean water melts away the base of the ice shelf, and is occurring far more rapidly than scientists expected.” A sea level rise of 4 feet is expected to occur within the next 200 years; and if you think that isn’t going to have a significant impact in the next few years–including the death and displacement of millions of people–you’ve got another thing coming.

I’ve often wondered if the end of humanity will come swiftly once we universally understand our connection to, well, everything. What happens the moment after all religious devotees stop clamoring for the “most true” position amongst the rest of us and simply see that in no way does our connectivity impinge upon our individuality? This “knowledge”—this truly sober moment—may be closer than we think, melting and creeping towards us like Antarctic ice. And it can have only two possible outcomes: 1) It is the End Times. For real. We realize our connection to each and every thing, and then, of course, we become one with it all in eternity, or 2) It’s not the End Times but it’s the end of those times where we saw ourselves as so separate from each other and the earth that we felt it was appropriate to disengage from pressing issues and focus on, well, Lindsay Lohan, instead. But instead of that, we move into a new earth, a new planetary culture that’s not marginalized by TMZ and celeb-bashing. We rise to meet the challenge of rising sea levels and temperatures and make drastic, lasting changes to the ways we live and care for the earth. I know. The End of the World is the likelier scenario, right?

But all most some judgments aside… something’s got to give. We know we can’t continue to bury our head in our iPhones or “Game of Thrones” and pretend that things aren’t changing. We (at least, me) have children to think about. And if they don’t get to grow up in a world with rainforest medicines and Antarctic glaciers, they at least deserve to live in a world where their parents’ generation tried to save those things and make it a better place. Even if we fail. We can say we tried. Looks like even Lindsay’s going that route. Will you?

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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ColumnWhy we really care whether or not Lindsay Lohan is sober.

It’s easy to say we care about Lindsay Lohan and her sobriety because we hate to see the cutie from “The Parent Trap” movie remake struggling. We say we care because she was so loveable in “Mean Girls.” A few of us may even admit to being drawn to the train wreck that appears to be her life.

Watching the Oprah reality show “Lindsay“(sorry, but it’s a reality show; respect to Lady O and its award-winning director for trying to class it up), many of us are rooting for her. I am.

Not because she’s famous, but because she’s a person who appears to be struggling. Also, I did love her in “Mean Girls.”

Others are rooting for her to fail. As a famous person, she can afford an addiction treatment center that reportedly costs upward of $80,000 a month, a life coach (who dumped her), a personal assistant, and a sober coach (who also seems to have dumped her) and still can’t make it.

That’s why we really care. If Lindsay Lohan fails it will give us an out.

If she can’t do it, how can we, mere mortals, be expected to get our shit together? To quit drinking? Make time for the gym? If she loses her battles, how can we be held accountable for losing our own?

This week alone I have read that she admitted to having a glass of wine and was seen drinking at Coachella.

As a culture, we’re great at putting women on pedestals and then celebrating when they can’t balance up there.

Kim K. Looks Fat at the Grocery Store! Miley Is a Skanky Mess! Tori is Painfully Thin! Gwyneth Does a Thing and We Hate Her!

Stars, they’re just like us—and we all suck.

It’s been a year since I quit drinking. I never careened out of control ala Lindsay Lohan;  I never entered a rehab program; but I did need to stop drinking.

And you know what, as great as I feel overall, there are moments—whole entire days sometimes—when it really doesn’t feel worth the effort.

While I work hard to not make a big deal out of it, and sometimes succeed in those attempts, it is effort. Every day, I remake my choice in a million little ways.

There are a lot of factors in why I have done well so far (and I say so far because who knows). Maybe my problem wasn’t as bad as the other LL’s. My family is definitely awesome (and not trying to cash in on my fame by writing a book about me like Lindsay’s mom Dina Lohan is). And, no one made this choice for me.

Perhaps most importantly, I never had to leave the bubble of rehab and experience the shock of re-entry into life under a microscope and flashbulbs.

I’m not criticizing people for watching “Lindsay.” I wouldn’t be writing this if I wasn’t watching myself—and feeling a little guilty about it. But, I know that my watching doesn’t impact her success getting sober. And that her success, in turn, doesn’t impact my own—or anyone’s.

Overall, watching “Lindsay” makes me sad. You can see her, in moments, really wanting more for herself. More that has nothing to do with vintage Yves St. Laurent. More than the chance to chain smoke in private. It seems like she wants to make it and be happy—whatever that means to her, and I hope she gets there.

Stars might be able to retreat to rehab centers that cost more for a month than many make in a year, but people like me have a much better chance at winning the war because there’s not a crowd of people watching me teeter on a pedestal, ready to pummel me with chants of, “I knew she couldn’t do it,” and then hand me a drink if I fall.

That Happened is Libby Lowe’s weekly column for EcoSalon analyzing media, news and pop culture through a feminist lens. Keep in touch with Libby @LibbyLowe.

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We wish more of you in the spotlight would bask in the green light, including Olympic poster boys, platinum-capped rappers and Hollywood idols who consume our fascination. What they own, where they live, what they drive, what they wear, what they eat: It drives our popular culture.

Imagine the potential impact of the young and wasteful who make the choice to get on board the eco movement beyond peddling torn tights and alternative energy fluids like Red Bull.

True, not every ingenue puts herself on the line, like Hayden Panettiere, who traveled to the Japanese village of Taiji to protest the dolphin slaughter. And not every handsome screen idol can fill Leo’s shoes, lending his support to countless causes, like the upcoming Christie’s International Green Auction to raise mega bucks for four non-profit environmental organizations.

We don’t judge the slackers harshly because, well, the dangling adverts and chauffeured SUVs are hard to pass up. But we urge the following stars to try out for a more worthwhile role, that of sustainable spokesperson for a hurting planet.

Shaun White Red Bull and Target Line: Adverts Not Medal-Worthy

The world’s best uber-snowboarder and top money maker can make a huge dent by being more selective about endorsements, promoting healthy, sustainable products. But Shaun White has aligned himself as an extreme Red Bull energy drinker (should we drink it to board like him?) and a line of boy’s wear at Target to name a few. Some of the garments are cotton (and not organic) but the sweats contain a lot of plastic polyester. This would have been a great chance to score a green eco line, a hot move for sure. After all, his Target advert made the screen at Times Square. That’s power!

Sean Kingston: My Super 18 Reflective of Phat-Pack Lavish Cribs and Bling

The five pound gold watch says it’s time for Sean to green his act. Perhaps a casualty of MTV Cribs and other entertainment flaunting the lavish lives of the rich and blung, the rapper’s idea of  a birthday is staging a Super 18 bash at Jungle Beach in Jamaica with his entourage, iced in $100,000 of new jewelry and adding a new car to his fleet. The native of Kingston could do so much more to send the right message. Conspicuous consumption? Zzz.

Lindsay Lohan Has Holes in Her Eco Story

Perpetually in trouble (last stint was falling into a patch of succulents), Lohan is adding hand bags to her questionable 6126 fashion line, which also includes green leggings. She needs to go the way of Project Runway’s Leeann Marshall and others who are investing in green that is more sustainable than trashy. In this case, Mama may actually know best because Dina Lohan launched an eco-friendly toothbrush that might get more support that the 6126 hose. Lohan should really get on board the green bus with true commitment, forgoing the junk food and drugs and getting healthy to set an example for her fans.

Miley Cyrus Needs to Deliver that Eco Line without Inconsistencies

“I’m a vegetarian but I hate vegetables and eat pasta everyday,” she was quoted saying, as thousands of young fans listed with baited breath. Great. One day she is reaching out to recruit green teens. The next she is swapping out her Toyotoa Prius for a Mercedes SUV. Ecorazzi says Miley blames the recall but the truth is her dog outgrew the hybrid. This is a mega rich, red hot star who has cashed in on her Hanah Montana products – most of them cheesy polyester girl’s wear sold at Sears, Walmart, Macy’s and other big box stores. Even her Target bedding (what kids breathe in nightly), is filled with toxic textiles. Why not use the good stuff, Miley? You would be even richer when it comes to promoting healthy living.

Team Beckham: Gas-Guzzling Cars, Real Estate, Mega Miles, Sugar Adverts, $1.5 million Shopping Sprees

One critic of the soccer star went so far as to accuse him of “causing global warming.” That’s because the family man (Victoria and three little forwards), reportedly among other accusations, owns a fleet of 15 cars (including an Escalade) and racked up more than 250,000 frequent flier miles last year. And he can spend the money he earns to bend. According to MSN, he spent a cool three grand to fly his pampered bulldog pup in luxury from England to Beverly Hills through a VIP service that included special care. He also has endorsed high sugar products, a no-no for athletes and greenies alike. Then again, wife Victoria is said to own $2 million in Hermes Birkin bags, and reportedly dropped $1.5 million shopping for a single season in Milan, claiming “shopping is like a drug.” Yep, that’s why most of us stay away from Via Montenapoleone when in Milan.

Images: alacoolb, Style News, Ecorazzi, Infobarrtell, Addict, Hauteliving

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