Battle for total power

A momentous battle between darkness and light is to be played out on Saturday - and it's not the state election.

The winner of the battle has been already determined - and not by a vote.

It concerns neither premier Bob Carr or opposition leader John Brogden but Tanist, lord of the underworld, who will defeat his twin brother, the sun god Lugh, during Mabon, the ancient pagan celebration of the autumn equinox.

As a result, the days become shorter and nights longer until Lugh can enact his revenge at the spring equinox in September.

A re-enactment of the battle forms part of the Stars, Cards & Charms exhibition being held at Liverpool Regional Museum this Saturday.

The event, hosted by the Pagan Alliance Network (PAN), Astrology Association NSW, Casula Powerhouse, Liverpool Regional Museum and Liverpool Council, will feature fortune-telling with tarot cards, numerology, palmistry and astrology, plus a craft market, story-telling, lectures and sausage sizzle.

Festivities will be held in the field behind the museum at the corner of Congressional Drive and the Hume Highway. The day starts at noon with the battle scheduled for 4pm.

PAN president David Garland said everyone was invited to check out what the nature-based religion was all about.

"Just bring an open mind," he said.

"It is a day of celebration and we would like to show people that we are just practitioners of another religion.

"There is nothing to be scared of.

"It is actually quite a beautiful religious service."

Mabon is a Celtic/Welsh myth that celebrated the second harvest, a time of plenty.

It involves a ritual circle invoking the elements - earth, wind, fire and water - before the god Cernunnos and goddess Danu bless a bountiful harvest.

Mr Garland dismissed the innuendo that Wicca followers are satanists.

"Satan is a Christian creation, Wicca is a nature-based religion," he said.

"I will be giving a lecture on modern paganism this Saturday if people want to find out the truth about Wicca."

The coincidence of state election day being set for equinox was not lost on Mr Garland.

"I have always believed governments have reasons for choosing their day for elections and it would not surprise me if March 22 was selected because it is a day of balance," he said.