The SAA is a body formed in Edinburgh in 1974 to promote a deeper understanding of astrology in Scotland. We organise lectures throughout most of the year.
Upcoming Talks
Land, Sky, & Stone: The Skyscape Archaeology of Anna Estaroth & Her Research on Orkney with JD Kelley
Wednesday, 23 September 2026, 7:30 pm BST (6:30 pm GMT/UTC)
Before there were clocks, calendars, or written histories as we know them, there was light: the rising Sun, the setting Moon, the changing horizon, and the sudden illumination of a darkened chamber. What if prehistoric architecture was designed not only to offer shelter to the living or the dead, but to frame encounters with the sky?
This talk explores the life and work of astrologer and archaeologist Anna Estaroth, whose research brought together astrology, archaeology, landscape, and the lived experience of the sky. From her investigations of the Clava Cairns and their relationships to the Sun and Moon, through her later doctoral research on light and darkness in Neolithic Orkney and Shetland, Anna sought to understand prehistoric monuments as places where celestial phenomena became part of human experience.
JD Kelley will trace this development and share the experiences accompanying her during a fieldwork trip in Orkney, where he assisted her as Anna investigated how sunlight could have entered particular prehistoric buildings and illuminated specific architectural features at significant times of the solar year. Anna’s work considers not only orientation and astronomical alignment, but also shadow, interior space, movement, art, and the experience of light itself.
What might it have felt like to stand inside one of these buildings as a beam of sunlight entered a darkened chamber? How might an image, wall, doorway, or stone have been transformed when touched by the Sun? And what happens when we understand prehistoric monuments not as static archaeological remains, but as carefully constructed encounters between land, sky, stone, light, and human beings?
In remembering Anna's work, this talk invites us to look again at Orkney—and to imagine a prehistoric world in which the celestial was not distant from everyday life, but entered directly into the spaces people built, inhabited, decorated, and made sacred.
John-David (JD) Kelley is the chairman of the Scottish Astrological Association, having served since 2020; the founding president of the International Association of Astral Magic (IAAM), and the organiser of Astro Magia.
JD is a professional natal and electional astrologer, as well as a practicing astral magician and talisman crafter. His astrological leanings are both traditional and modern alongside a deep interest in astrological and astral magic. JD is influenced by historical approaches to magic, the mixing of magical traditions throughout the world, by an animist view of the Cosmos, by art and art-making, and by visionary and ecstatic practices. You can find him at Cunning as Folk where he teaches and practices his range of esoteric and interpretive arts.
In Memory of Anna Estaroth: Her Influence and Work
General Details, including Registration and Live-Open-to-All
All talk is included in an SAA Membership. Join Today!
£20 Membership Fee - Join for full access to all talks, our Member’s Video Libary, exclusive events and discounts.
Non-members can register to attend and receive the recording by clicking here for a £5 fee.
Live Event Open to all! Join our newsletter for the link.
The virtual doors will open from 7:15 pm for talks, talks start promptly at 7:30 pm, unless otherwise noted.
All times are given for the local time in Edinburgh, Scotland.
For security purposes, Zoom Meeting links will be sent 48 to 24 hours prior to the event.
Recent Talks
Mercury & Jupiter - From Curiosity to Meaning with Greg McMullan
Wednesday, 2 September 2026, 7:30 pm BST (6:30 pm GMT/UTC)
During the talk, Greg will share astrological insights and use illustrative chart examples to demonstrate how the energies of Mercury and Jupiter manifest in practical, real-world/life situations. These examples will help clarify the tangible impact of these planetary influences on personal development and life choices.
Facebook: StarDrifter Astrology
Greg embarked on his Astrological studies in 2016, driven by a strong sense of curiosity. In 2017, he completed the Mayo Certificate Course, establishing a comprehensive foundation in Natal Interpretation. He furthered his education with the LSA before obtaining the Mayo Diploma in both Natal and Mundane Astrology. Greg recently presented at the 2025 Mayo Student Conference. He has also contributed to the Astrological Journal and is currently setting up an Astrology Group in Northern Ireland. He remains committed to ongoing professional development and derives satisfaction from assisting clients in understanding their potential and interpreting life circumstances through Astrology. Greg also works as a PCV Training Instructor for the National Public Transport provider in Northern Ireland assisting new and established bus drivers with their careers in a demanding professional environment.
Is There Life Without Mars? with Carole Bone
Wednesday, 8 July 2026, 7:30 pm BST (6:30 pm GMT/UTC)
Mars is sometimes given a bad press. Anger, aggression and violence are often the god of wars best known traits. Tonight we look a little deeper into the positive side of Mars! Defender, pioneer and entrepreneur, where would we be without the passion and drive of Mars.
Carole Bone has been studying astrology for almost twenty-five years, gaining her FAS Certificate in May 2001. She studied with renowned Glasgow astrologer and author Anne Whitaker for two years before becoming first librarian then Secretary of Aquarius Rising, an astrological association based in Glasgow. She also enjoys writing poetry, art and a little photography. She has had several poems printed both online and by United Press. Her poem ‘Stardancing’ won the 2011 National Poetry Anthology and has had both articles and poems published in The Mountain Astrologer, Astrodienst, IAM (Infinity Astrological Magazine and Astrologos.
The Mesopotamian Symbolism behind Twelve Zodiac Signs with Danny Larkin
Wednesday, 10 June 2026, 7:30 pm BST (6:30 pm GMT/UTC)
Although the famous 12 zodiacal signs are usually discussed in relation to their Greek myths, older Babylonian myths also correspond to each of the 12 signs. Many of them resonate deeply with the tropical zodiac as well as planetary rulership. For example, in Greek mythology, the sign of Cancer is connected with the crab Hera sent to menace Hercules. In the Babylonian mythos, the crab symbolized the fertility and abundance of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Both the goat fish of Capricorn and the figure holding a cup were familiar representations of Enki, who is syncretized to Saturn and rules both signs. The point of this talk is not to suggest that Babylonian is better. The goal is to reveal some of the mesopotamian ideas that live on in the zodiac underneath some Greek camouflage.
Danny Larkin is a nominee for The Marion D. March Regulus Award for Community Service, which will be presented later this year at the 2026 United Astrology Conference in Chicago. Danny coordinates the Big Apple Astrology Meetup in New York City. Since the pandemic, it has become the world's largest monthly gathering of astrologers, as well as one of the highest paying speaking opportunities for professional astrologers. Danny is a lifetime member of the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR). He was the recording secretary at the 2017 and 2019 NCGR conferences in Baltimore, serves on the teaching faculty of the New York City chapter, and serves as a fellow and A/V coordinator for the chapter. Danny is a lifetime member of the International Society of Astrological Research (ISAR). He passed the competency exam and is fully certified by ISAR. Danny served as Vice President and President of the Association of Young Astrologers from 2017 to 2020. Danny is the founding Vice President and currently serves as a program coordinator for the International Association of Astral Magic (2023 - Present). Danny is a student at the UK Faculty of Astrological Studies and has attended every Summer School since 2017. He even studied in person with Liz Greene in Cornwall in 2017. Danny is a student of Demetra George, attending her initial retreats in Hellenistic Astrology in 2016, 2017 and 2018, traveling wih her to Greece in 2019, and completing her first two demanding certification exams in Hellenistic Astrology. Danny is a proud overseas member of the Scottish Astrological Association.
The Moral Compass Of Humanity: Why The Neptune Pluto Sextile Matters More Than You Think! with Lianne McCafferty
Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 7:30 pm BST (6:30 pm GMT/UTC)
A series of Neptune–Pluto sextiles unfolding from 2026 to 2032 leads us into the third and final exact phase of a configuration shared by most people alive today. It offers a measure of our evolving collective conscience and humanity’s growth and is a rare historical moment - a fire–air sextile that signals metamorphosis. It marks the burning away of outdated norms, the aeration of new ideals and the subtle yet profound reshaping of our collective moral compass. In this talk we will explore how far we’ve travelled in transcending inherited conditioning and how we become more intolerant of what no longer aligns with our evolving sense of justice, dignity and care.
Lianne McCafferty D.M. Astrol MAPAI holds the Mayo School Of Astrology Diploma with Distinction in natal & mundane astrology, where she is also a long-standing tutors. She is author of Juno More Than Meets The Eye, The Thirteenth Degree Of Knowing, Intellectual Revolution along with numerous articles in international publications. She speaks regularly at international conferences and is on the board of both the Astrological Association and Scottish Astrological Association. Her current research is focused on asteroids and TNO’s. Formerly a professional equestrian prior to transitioning into martial arts, she is now a Second Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. She also integrates astrology into sport performance, mental and physical wellbeing.
Death Charts as Cosmic Obituaries with Richard Fidler
Wednesday, 8 April 2026, 7:30 pm BST (6:30 pm GMT/UTC)
Birth and death are, quite literally, the bookends of the life-cycle. As astrologers we believe that the celestial pattern at the moment of birth will reveal a great deal about the nature of the entity that has been born, but what of the moment of death? Could this moment, too, be pregnant with meaning regarding the life that has been lived? Could it be that the planetary positions of the birth chart can be read just like a birth chart? This lecture aims to demonstrate that a chart cast for the moment of death is, in fact, a type of "Cosmic Obituary". For the avoidance of any misunderstanding, this idea has nothing to do with astrologically predicting death or measuring longevity, it is simply the theory that the moment of death is, astrologically, no less significant than the moment of birth.
Richard Alwin Fidler is a professional astrologer and teacher. His astrological career began in the early 1990’s, while still in his teens. His approach is eclectic, combining Western and Vedic astrological methodologies. Richard has been a speaker at several international astrological conferences, in South Africa, India, Greece and the USA.
In 2014 Richard was awarded the title of ‘Jyotish Martanda’ on an honorary basis at the University of Calcutta by the Krishnamurti Institute of Astrology. He has served on its organizing committee for their periodic international conferences which attract leading astrologers from every part of the world.
Richard’s work and ideas has been published in the Mountain Astrologer magazine, the Astrological Journal and several other publications. Richard has served as the chairperson of the Cape Town based Cape Astrology Association from 2014 to 2017, and from 2021 to 2023 he served as the ISAR Global Director for the United Kingdom.
Psyche and Soma - Where the Heavens Meet the Body with Susan Swan
Wednesday, 11 March 2026
As Above, So Below” is a principle familiar to all astrologers. In this talk, Susan explores this axiom more deeply — considering the “Above” not only as the visible heavens, but as the outermost layer of an unseeable and ultimately unknowable primal cause. The “Below” is not singular, but multi-layered: psyche, energy, body, and the external situations and events through which these patterns are expressed. Each level reflects and correlates with the others.
Susan will briefly introduce the elements of Sāṃkhya philosophy which exist in the manifest universe. From there, the focus will move to the chakra system as a practical map of embodied consciousness. Particular attention will be given to the relationship between the chakras and the Chaldean order of the planets, exploring how planetary principles may be experienced through specific energetic centres.
The session will then explore which components of the natal chart might correspond with each chakra, offering a framework for viewing the chart as a gateway to the psyche as it is expressed in the soma — and in lived experience.
This perspective opens the possibility of applying therapeutic or remedial approaches with greater precision, especially where challenges are indicated in the chart. Audience interaction/input will be invited during this exploration.
Susan Swan is an astrologer and yoga therapist with over 40 years’ experience in astrology and more than 30 years working therapeutically with the body. Her work brings astrology into lived experience, exploring how planetary patterns are expressed through the nervous system, the energetic field, and physical form.
A former long-standing member of the SAA she has served on the committee in every role, including Chair, and is delighted to return to share her work.
In her therapeutic practice, Susan combines Yoga Therapy with Astrology, using planetary cycles as a practical diagnostic tool to identify the root causes of persistent physical and emotional patterns, focusing on underlying dynamics rather than surface symptoms.
Alongside natal and cyclical astrology, she is also trained in Horary Astrology, integrating a carefully determined moment of enquiry within consultations. She finds that horary often reveals core issues with striking clarity, complementing and sometimes deepening insight from natal, transit, and progressed charts.
Bubble Burst to Dreams Come True: Saturn-Neptune Conjunction with Rod Chang
Tuesday, 3 February 2026
The ingress of Neptune into Aries marks the beginning of its zodiac cycle, which occurs once every 164 years. This time, however, Saturn is accompanying Neptune to this significant position, marking the start of another 33-year Saturn–Neptune cycle. In mundane astrology, this symbolises the start of a crucial cycle and brings a different political and economic atmosphere. On a personal level, the combination of grounded Saturn and spiritual, liberating Neptune awakens our inner warrior, giving us the opportunity to realise our dreams. In this talk, Rod will explore the impact of the Saturn–Neptune conjunction at 0 degrees Aries on our personal lives, as well as its wider political and economic implications.
Rod Chang is an astrologer with over thirty years' experience. He has spoken at several international conferences in the UK, China, Japan and Australia. He specialises in fixed stars, comets, mundane astrology, financial astrology and astronomy, and takes a humanistic approach to astrology. He is also a co-founder of the Academy of Astrology. His book Comets in Astrology, the result of his twelve-year study of comets in astrology, was published in August 2025. He is also an experienced astrophotographer. Rod also hosts live-streaming podcasts with guest speakers on YouTube channel AOAUK1 and Instagram handle @AOAUKROD, please follow for more details.
Email：aoa.enquiry@gmail.com