Totem

Sometimes when I look in the mirror I scarcely recognise the old man who looks back at me. I don't remember getting older. Maybe the mirror made a mistake.

Life's like that. Sometimes we don't perceive changes happening around us until they're a fait accompli.

Take, for example, the impact of New Age mysticism. All of us are aware that it's out there but for the most part we don't quite know just what it means, whether it's relevant, or whether it can impact on our lives; so we ignore it until it taps us on the shoulder and says, "Hi there!"

And do you know how strong an influence indigenous American culture has on New Age thinking? The American Indians have a strong affinity with the animal kingdom and often install an animal totem as a spiritual entity of considerable power. Some ensure good hunting, others favourable weather, others security for the tribe, and so it goes on.

It becomes relevant to us when we realise that square dancing has its own animal totem, and it's a lion. Not just any lion, but a special lion with a special name.

If you visit Footloose Squares the first thing you will see on the front table is a stuffed toy lion wearing a club badge with his name proudly shown on it—Ben. We believe that if you give Ben a pat as you come in you'll enjoy the night's dancing.

Wherever you go square dancing you'll hear more and more of Ben. At any venue, anywhere in the world he is honoured. Callers of all nationalities invoke his name in dance after dance.

Listen hard next time you go square dancing and you'll hear a call that's certainly an acknowledgement, indeed almost a invocation.

It's Ben the Lion!