(^266) A Wiccan Bible
courts of men, here there are no lies because the prosecutor is Thoth, the personifica-
tion and god of Truth itself. Sitting as judge is Osiris with the assistance of Isis and
Nephthys who are at his sides. The soul, or sometimes the heart, is then placed on a
balancing scale along with its sin, the actions of the mind. On the other side of that
scale is placed a feather from the crown of Maat, goddess of truth. Should the weight of
the soul with its sin be greater than the feather, it sinks and is devoured by Ammit such
that there is no chance of afterlife or reincarnation. Instead, the soul becomes nothing.
Babylonian Judgement
Similar to the Islamic Katib, the Babylonian record keeper is Belit-Sheri. She records
the actions and inaction of a lifetime and presents that record to the Queen of the
Dead to determine final judgement.
Native American Judgement
The lore of several of the tribes of the great planes shows a bridge between this life
and the next, The Bridge of Souls. Below that bridge is an abyss of darkness that con-
sumes souls into its nothingness. Upon that bridge is a guardian, sometimes an Owl
Woman, who looks at the spirit of those who would pass. If she recognizes that spirit as
being kith or kin, deserving of the afterlife, she allows them to pass. If she should not,
they are thrown from the bridge into the abyss.
Islamic Judgement
At birth, every person receives a Katib (writer) who throughout a person’s lifetime
keeps tracks of all actions and inaction and writes those deeds in the kitab, the book of
deeds. On the day of one’s death, the kitab is read to the recently released soul, and his
or her final disposition is determined by its contents.
Why This is important to Wicca
Wicca is a modern religion, so one might say we can pick and choose what Pagan
lore we desire and what we do not. While this is true, in asking what Wicca is we see
guidance in what to choose and what not to. In looking at what Wicca is, we see a clear
reason to recognize both a Summerland and a Winterland. You see, this book began
with the separation of Light and Darkness, with the separation of Winter and Summer
and that is how it will end, with Light and Darkness as well as Winter and Summer, in
their reunion, in that which is the very end of the world.
You see, all things have a beginning, middle, and an end. We are all born, we all
live, and we will all die. Our world was born, it is living, and it will die. We can extend
our lives by living right and taking care of ourselves. We can extend our world’s life by
taking care of it. But in the end, we will die. In the end, our beloved world will die as
well. In the end of our life, our birth (Light) and our death (Darkness) will meet and
cancel each other out. In the end of the world, Summerland will meet Winterland and
cancel each other out. In the end of Divinity, the Gods will meet the Outsiders and
cancel each other out. So one is left with two potential ways of looking at things:
y WB Chap 16.p65 266 7/11/2003, 6:04 PM
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