Book excerpt: An in-depth but highly readable account of Pluto in the natal chart and how Pluto aspects can affect childhood, adulthood, and life in general. Pluto's energy is extremely potent and powerful. Within Astrology, it is considered to be a "generational planet" as it influences both individuals and entire generations. The planet governs our compulsive behavior, all those things we know we shouldn't do but feel compelled to do anyway. It also represents the hidden dimension of our emotional lives, all the parts of ourselves that we'd rather bury in our subconscious and not reveal to others. In Healing Pluto Problems, Donna Cunningham explains how Pluto functions in the birth chart and shows how Plutonian problems can manifest. Cunningham presents her material with warmth and compassion, without avoiding the tough lessons that Pluto has to offer. Cunningham addresses such topics as: • Guilt, resentment, and fear • Emotional secrets and their contribution to self-isolation • Incest, abuse, and domestic violence • Pluto and the need for power and control • The psychology of being a victim • Death and transformation • The consequences of avoiding grief Interested not only in diagnosing Pluto problems, Cunningham also gives us tools for healing those problems—affirmations, flower remedies, exercises for working with the chakras—and shows us how to use Pluto transits for growth. This Weiser Classics edition replaces the previously published edition (9780877283980).