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This is the quasi-erotic Bokononist practice in which two individuals rub the soles of their feet together. This creates a “mingling” of awareness—and a pun on the words “sole” and “soul.”
Boko-maru Quotes in Cat’s Cradle
The Cat’s Cradle quotes below are all either spoken by Boko-maru or refer to Boko-maru. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 72
Quotes
What I had seen, of course, was the Bokononist ritual of boko-maru, or the mingling of awarenesses.
We Bokononists believe that it is impossible to be sole-to-sole with another person without loving the person, provided the feet of both persons are clean and nicely tended.
The basis for the foot ceremony is this “Calypso”:
We will touch our feet, yes,
Yes, for all we’re worth,
And we will love each other, yes,
Yes, like we love our Mother Earth.
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Boko-maru Term Timeline in Cat’s Cradle
The timeline below shows where the term Boko-maru appears in Cat’s Cradle. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 72. The Pissant Hilton
...the hook. John explains from the present-day that he had just witnessed the Bokononist ritual, “boko-maru”—“the mingling of awareness.” He quotes one of the calypsos: “we will touch our feet, yes,...
(full context)
Chapter 77. Aspirin and Boko-maru
Julian explains that the last rites involve boko-maru, which he believes “works.” He reveals that everyone on the island is a practicing Bokononist.
(full context)
Chapter 91. Mona
Mona initiates boko-maru with John, saying it will help him. John, from the present-day, tells the reader that...
(full context)
Chapter 92. On the Poet’s Celebration of His First Boko-Maru
John quotes some of Bokonon’s words about boko-maru: “My soles, my soles! / My soul, my soul, / Go there, / Sweet soul;...
(full context)
Chapter 93. How I Almost Lost My Mona
After boko-maru, John tells Mona that he loves her. She loves him too, she says. He asks...
(full context)
John asks Mona about her boko-maru with the pilot during the ceremony, and whether she used to perform boko-maru with Philip...
(full context)
Chapter 98. Last Rites
...human being feel better, even if it’s unscientific.” Dr. Koenigswald gets into position to perform boko-maru with “Papa”.
(full context)
Chapter 120. To Whom It May Concern
...shelter there, before opting to poison themselves. Many of them appear to have died during boko-maru.
(full context)
