A Loss for Humanity – Margot Adler

With the news of the passing of Margot Adler our community manifests remembrances of a pillar of the Pagan community. Even more, there is the recounting of her considerable contributions to journalism, activism, and National Public Radio.

It was years after becoming Pagan that I first read her foundational book on the emerging Pagan community.  As such, I have little connection to the awakening referenced by others as a result of exposure to her work.  Nor do I count my self as a member of her inner circle of friends.  Yes, I shared a number of meals, drinks and conversations with her, yet our relationship was casual with the exception of the profound effect she had on me.

In Margot,  I witnessed the best of what the community can be.  My interactions with her left me in awe of her class, grace, humanity and sense of humor.  I never witnessed anyone come away from meeting her feeling they had met a BNP: instead, there was a realization of a profound human connection, the touching of inner beings, the effect of her presence on any group was comforting.

One year at Florida Pagan Gathering I was honored to have Margot invite me to share a presentation she was giving.  I was stunned, when I asked her why she simply said, “you have something to contribute”.  I was deeply touched.

Our world will miss her iconic voice on NPR, our community will miss her insightful, humorous presentations, and those of us who knew her socially will miss her rye sense of humor.

What I will miss is the wonderful spirit who embodied everything I believe our community aspires to.

Margot was the best of us, may we all manifest the qualities she so easily displayed in everything she did.   The loss to our community is beyond measure, yet, we can celebrate her life by insuring her qualities live within each of us.