Healing Pluto Problems

by Donna Cunningham

Well written and moving account of Pluto in the natal chart, and how Pluto aspects can affect childhood, adulthood, and life in general. Open discussion of child abuse, rape, incest, violence, repression, manipulative types and how they got thatway. Also included are ways to heal Pluto problems using flower remedies, meditation and more.

Genres: Astrology, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Occult, Metaphysics

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 1986

About the author

Donna Cunningham is an internationally respected astrologer and author of 15 books on metaphysical topics. Her insight-oriented approach combines her 45 years of experience in astrology and her Master’s Degree in Social Work. She was the advice columnist in Dell Horoscope Magazine for 20 years, and has written hundreds of magazine articles. Her popular blog, Skywriter (http://skywriter.wordpress.com/‎) has her newest writings and is the place to order her ebooks.

https://www.facebook.com/DonnaCunning...
http://www.moonmavenpublications.com/
http://www.donnasfreeastrology.info/

Reviews

[Parin Stormlaughter Stormlaughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodness. I feel like I just got my mouth washed out with a whole bottle of Slap.

If you ever believed that everything was all your fault and you were solely responsible for making it all right, read this book and it'll reinforce that conviction.

The book has far less astrology than I expected. Despite the jacket description, it also contains far fewer recommendations for resolving the issues than it does for identifying them, explaining them and specifying causes of them other than just the Pluto placement in a natal chart.

Despite being loaded with sensationalism by understatement, I got a lot out of the book. She most assuredly understands Plutonians. There aren't many of us, our needs are different than other's, and she does make that abundantly clear.

Once I get the Slap out of my mouth, I'll study the book more closely. If you decide to make the plunge into this book, you might consider reading Chapter Eight, Counseling People With Pluto Problems, first. Had I been forewarned that she was aware of how offended we would be, I might have felt like the Slap was minty-fresh Scope instead.

[CC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it was recommended by Jessica Lanyadoo on "Ghost of a Podcast." It's a mixed bag -- some of the content was very useful and sparked intense self-reflection. Some of the content felt very dated and politically out-of-touch (e.g. the pregnancy section not acknowledging reproductive coercion and misogyny). Overall, I'm glad I picked this book up, but I would approach it with a clear understanding that it was published in 1986.

[DeanJean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intensely riveting, plus you get to feel the not-very-enjoyable familiar stab in the gut when you clearly recognise the compulsive patterns that she talks about. The chapters on guilt, co-dependency and manipulation resonated really well with me. Never heard of Bach flower remedies till I read this, which I may explore on my own when I get the time.

[Karen Christino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic originally published in 1986 and probably the first comprehensive book on the astrology of Pluto. As I went through a very heavy Pluto transit, it really helped me understand and cope with what was going on. Cunningham used her experience in social work for a number of examples in the text, which includes Pluto through the houses and transits of Pluto. There are sections on the heavy Plutonian topics of the collective, abuse, manipulation, death and grief, as well as flower essence treatments, recommended books and affirmations for healing. A terrific resource that you can read all at once or dip into from time to time.

[Blake Thunderport · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a bit of a christian touch and outdated examples but everything else was on point. As a Plutonian I don’t mind.
The placement and transit chapters were scarily exact. No sugarcoating anymore. With this book we’re trying to heal.
Digital hug to all fellow Plutonians.

[Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed this badly. So many things I couldn't figure out about myself finally make sense, and I'm grateful for the clarity and--even better--the exercises and methods outlined on how to identify and heal those very Plutonian problems of resentment, guilt/shame, and painful attachments. The concept of "fail to spite" was so eye-opening for me and may finally help me overcome the problems that have haunted me my whole life and have kept me back from so many things I want in life. I can't wait to go back through and actually do the exercises this time around. So grateful for this resource.

[Julya Savina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn’t a cookbook exactly of Pluto placements and transits. It was so much more! Diving into all the Pluto based realities such as grief, incest and abuse, power, etc, this was a very valuable read on not only the damage that Pluto can cause, but also relation to it. “Insightful” doesn’t begin to cover it.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning to welcome my Pluto

Although this book is a little dated, it was very informative. Pluto is transiting my 1st house and I am studying evolutionary astrology... I am very very Plutonian.

[Just a bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good read, but you need a strong stomach to truly take in everything it reveals. What you read is no longer just self-doubt—you actually hear it, clearly, in your mind, and realize it really happened. That, in itself, helps… at least a little.
It’s insightful and, in many ways, reflects what Scorpios go through in their lives. I would recommend it to those who feel ready to reclaim themselves. It also offers helpful guidance on working with Bach flower remedies.

One passage from the book stood out to me:

“Despite all the disadvantages, there are many rewards to working with Plutonians. They are gutsy survivors of things that would have crushed lesser people, so they carry courage into their healing work. They are self-motivated people who CAN do it alone. They are deep, insightful, and introspective people who do not run from self-confrontation. The deeper you go and the more you focus, the better they like it. Although they may protest loudly that you are ‘killing them,’ they actually love to go in and stir things up. Their intensity is an advantage; the ‘heavier’ the session, the more they think it was worth it.”

As a Scorpio, no matter your placements, that’s really all you need to know.

Personally, I’m working on acceptance. I followed the book’s suggestions and started using Star of Bethlehem and Sagebrush, along with Mariposa Lily for themes of abandonment and past emotional wounds. I do recommend it.

I’m giving it 3 stars mainly because I was already familiar with Bach flowers (I have another book), and because it doesn’t go into enough detail about how to heal on a deeply personal level. It’s more of a guide to understanding how you feel in the moment and working from there.

It’s a good starting point—especially if you prefer to work on yourself independently. As a Scorpio, trusting others can be difficult, so you rely on your own judgment and move forward that way. The information can feel a bit generalized, but overall, it’s still valuable.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few reviewers have mentioned that this book is a bit outdated, but having recently gone through a Pluto transit (conjunct my natal moon), the info. clicked. I have Pluto square my moon in my natal chart and much of Donna's observations really feel consistent with my personal experience, and the experiences of people's chart (with Pluto issues) that I have worked with. Donna's writing is clear and plainspoken and you don't have to be an advanced astrologer to understand this book.

[Lauren Thyme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! Beyond Excellent!! Easy to read and understand. Astrological knowledge is helpful in studying this book.

So helpful to me -- a Plutonian -- who's having 4 Pluto transits from 2012-2018

Thank you Donna for saving my life and my sanity!

[George Araman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant analysis on depicting Pluto in the natal chart. It was as if the first 3 chapters of the book were written for me. As powerful as the analysis was, the healing solutions could have been less generalist and more accurate (by house for example), that's why I removed one star.

[Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there’s plenty to critique from a book published in the 80s, I learned so much about myself through this quick read! It left an impression that will really stick with me.

It’s giving,“take what works & leave the rest” energy. Lanyadoo sent me!

[Britt Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource on pluto

I found this to be an extremely helpful book on Pluto in the chart and especially on learning about pluto dominate people like myself. Love donnas work!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of what it means to be plutonian, how to identify it, and how to heal. Good for the benefit of my astrological studies.

[Paulina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. We all have a pluto somewhere. This book does not only explain the problems in question, it also gives many generous ways to release them. It is profound, honest, readable and funny.

[Min · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am yet to find a definit method, like meditation of some sort as a routine exercise...

[Angelica Zenteno. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book..

[Gingiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so impressed by how well this holds up and how gracefully the information in this book endures the passage of time.

[雨 刘 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psychological approach to astrology