Crossing the Rubicon: Celebrating the Human-Animal Bond in Life and Death [Paperback]

Julie Kaufman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 1999

A gentle, helpful guide to surviving losing a loved animal companion. The interviews with experts, vets and shared wisdom from those who've lost a pet and survived to celebrate their beloved animal's life will help you find validation by knowing that you are not alone in your loss. There are guided meditations to help you ground yourself through this very difficult transition. Crossing the Rubicon is a wonderful gift for anyone who has lost a loved animal companion.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

When Caesar crossed the Rubicon there was no going back; he was committed. How like the bond we create once an animal companion enters our lives. We are irrevocably changed.

Crossing the Rubicon: The Human-Animal Bond in Life and Death celebrates these changes. A collection of stories, poems, interviews and exercises, the book is helpful to anyone coping with the loss of a dear animal friend. It is also pertinent to the reader who wants to help someone grieve their loss or better understand the full meaning of the physical, psychological and spiritual roles pets play in our lives.

And as the animal messengers in these pages tell us, it is not only our pets lives that enrich us, but their deaths and their message from beyond death that affect us as well.

To help the ones left behind, a series of exercises is provided as an aid in the grieving process. These exercises show how we can ease the sorrow, renew the spirit and celebrate the lives of our pets through ceremony, ritual and memory recollection.

This moving anthology depicts the tenderness, frailty and joy of the human-animal bond in a way only true stories can. Cross the Rubicon and you'll never be the same.

About the Author

Julie A. Kaufman, DC, CAC completed the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) certification in 1990, earning the second animal chiropractic certification in the world. She owns a 3-doctor integrative veterinary clinic, Animal Holistic Care Specialists of Wisconsin (AHCS). Dr. Kaufman has two published books: Crossing the Rubicon: Celebrating the Human-Animal Bond in Life and Death, 1999, Xenophon Publications, and JointYoga for Animals: Strength, Flexibility, Balance, 2006, Xenophon Publications. Dr. Kaufman Currently lectures worldwide on Animal Chiropractic, Natural Health Care for Animals, Pet Loss, and JointYoga for Animals. She also teaches a JointYoga certification course and equine-assisted learning opportunities. Learn more about Animal Holistic Care Specialists, JointYoga and TrickYoga by visiting JointYoga.com and ChiropracticforAnimals.net

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Xenophon Pubns (October 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967208505
• ISBN-13: 978-0967208503
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #436,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Animal Care & Pets > Pet Loss

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the book is a 'must' for anyone who has ever lost a pet., October 15, 1999

By 

Bobbi (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crossing the Rubicon: Celebrating the Human-Animal Bond in Life and Death (Paperback)

As I had recently lost a dog, I must admit that I cried through the first third of the book. I was compelled to read on, and I'm so grateful that I did. By the end of the book, I felt so uplifted that I decided to read it again. I find that each time I read through Crossing the Rubicon, I glean something new from it. I must say, "this is the bible of dealing with the emotions of the human/animal bond."

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Refreshing New Perspective on Pet Bereavement, December 17, 1999

By 

Dr. Wallace Sife (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crossing the Rubicon: Celebrating the Human-Animal Bond in Life and Death (Paperback)

Crossing the Rubicon: Celebrating the Human-Animal bond in Life and Death. 1999. By Julie Kaufman, DC.

This is a very well-written and heartwarming anthology of real stories and experiences with pets. As the title indicates, it is intended to offer the reader new perspectives on the loss of a beloved companion animal. It also conveys the important message the bereaving pet owner is not alone, in this grief.

The author has succeeded in transcending the usual view and fear of death that we all have been raised with. In her wisdom and perspective she perceives death as a natural phenomenon, and offers gentle guidance to her readers, in developing this theme.

Each chapter begins with a self-help approach to meditative visualization and healing. In addition to the many heartwarming memorial poems and stories, this helpful book presents a positive philosophy of undying love, that enriches and enhances the life of the surviving owner.

In presenting new viewpoints on pet death, Dr. Kaufman has also added five interviews of special people, in this wonderful collection. These include a counselor in pet bereavement, two forward-looking holistic veterinarians, and the last two with a spiritualist and animal communicator.

Although the recent emergence and popularity of holistic medicine is starting to prove its hitherto undiscovered values, the suggestions that some people can communicate with animals - living as well as dead - can be too extreme for many. But it is still very interesting to read what these people have to say.

Overall, Crossing the Rubicon is an excellent new literary experience in pet love and loss. We recommend its reading, and trust that a future edition will include the APLB website with the others listed as Internet resources.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of great comfort by an excellent doctor., February 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Crossing the Rubicon: Celebrating the Human-Animal Bond in Life and Death (Paperback)

My 19-year-old Persian cat, Tilly, is a regular visitor to Dr. Julie. She is the warmest, gentlest and most knowing doctor I have ever known. She has helped Tilly with her severe arthritis and greatly reduced her pain. This book is filled with stories of the animals Dr. Julie has known and treated. There is also an excellent interview with veterinarian accupuncturist Dr. Heather Evans. This book will speak to your heart.