In Memory of Anna Estaroth

Anna was always a joy! She leaves a mighty light for all those whose lives she touched. A mighty light in Astrology Communities in the British Isles, especially in her longtime home of Scotland. This page is dedicated to her and her work.

Announcing the Annual Anna Estaroth Memorial Talk

Starting this September 2026, in the month of her birth, the SAA will host an annual talk in honour of Anna Estaroth featuring topics that were dear to her; archeoastronomy and skyscape archaeology with an emphasis on Scotland; horary astrology; medical astrology with an emphasis on mental health, psychiatry, and psychology; and the astronomy-astrology of Ancient Egypt.

I'm sad to hear about Anna's passing. She was a lovely, energetic introduction to Astrology for me in the 2010s, while teaching out of the Conan Doyle Centre. The stars were steeped in her soul; may her energy continue onwards.

-Sylvia Jenkins

Summarising a life like Anna Estaroth’s, one that extended over multiple decades, is inevitably subjective. It feels as though all one can do is select a few random seashells from the immense shoreline of Anna’s wider life.

As a person, I knew Anna as exceptionally positive and enthusiastic. Even in the most difficult circumstances, she managed to find an upbeat perspective on things. She also had deep insight and compassion for the suffering of others and how best to help them. She combined these qualities with an incredibly sharp intellect. Together, they made Anna a formidable social worker, astrological consultant, astrology teacher, sun‑sign columnist, and archaeological researcher.

Anna was a pivotal figure in the Scottish Astrological Association for nearly 50 years. Over the decades she held every Association office—Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Programme Co‑ordinator. Although she once told me she refused to be Treasurer again, as balancing account books was really not her forte!

Anna had a precocious start, doing readings for her primary‑school classmates at the age of only eight in New Zealand. She ran the Astrology Centre in Edinburgh with Violet Milne for two decades and later produced the astrological column for The Scotsman newspaper.

Anna’s interest in divination extended beyond astrology; she was an accomplished Tarot card reader and also worked with crystals.

However, Anna found a completely fresh outlet when she took up archaeological studies with the Sophia Centre, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, over the last decade. She completed an MA (and was working on her PhD) on the Clava Cairns in the Central Highlands.

Like many, I mourn the loss of Anna as a friend and as a pivotal member of our astrological community. But I also want to celebrate Anna as a luminous human being who left an inspiring example of a life very well lived.

My deepest condolences to Jim, Anna’s son, and her wider family.

-Mark Cullen

Dear Anna,

Today, 9 March 06 at the service of remembrance I listened in amazement to an account of your life described so well by the celebrant. So much about you I realised, that I did not know. It wasn’t that you didn’t talk about yourself but you didn’t linger on the past.

In those years when we spent so much time working together in the Astrology Centre, I remember your laughter, your refusal to take your own difficulties too seriously. Your focus was on other people’s lives, the people you did readings for, the people you were helping in all kinds of ways, most of all with your cheerful and confident manner. I think of your double Virgo – Sun and Ascendant, and see how you lived the concept of service, in an unassuming way, in being there, being available, always giving a helping hand, and that was in addition to your working life, dedicated to helping others. And to having fun, to enjoying life, that Sagittarian energy forever leading you into new adventures and particularly, new areas of learning. You didn’t waste a moment, you were working on completing your doctorate during those last months.

After leaving the crematorium and walking through Edinburgh’s streets, I was thinking of you and our times together when we worked at the Astrology Centre in St Stephen Street. Particularly the fun times, when we went off to craft fairs, to do readings, dressed up in colourful clothes – though you were always colourful, and I remember of course your bangles jingling as you came down the steps of the Centre, that’s how we always knew it was you coming.

Well Anna, I can still feel your energy and it is inspiring, once again. I think of you as a ‘let’s go and ...’ person, ready to explore, to try something new, to say yes, let’s do it, and we were lucky to be invited to go along, to take part and to share it with you. Today I feel – I need to make the most of every day, as you did, and, taking encouragement from you, I’m going to check when that next progressed New Moon is coming up and make some plans for change, give some thought to the next adventure. I feel sure your spirit will be with me when I go.

Much love,

Morelle Smith

Like all of us at the Scottish Astrological Association my heart broke on hearing of Anna's passing. I'm so glad though that quite a few of us got to see her at a meet-up in a hotel in Edinburgh a number of months ago as it was such a happy and fun gathering!

For myself, I remember the wonderful chats I had with her on all sorts of subjects from spirituality to holistic health and more. It could have been a long while since we saw each other last but our chat would be just like carrying on from where we last left off...

Her joy and enthusiasm we all knew well, but for me I felt truly inspired by that energy and how interesting she made whatever topic she'd be discussing. Anna's warmth too was very much a part of who she was, and my more personal chats with her made me feel truly heard and valued.

Will miss you Anna....but thank you for being a part of my life that I hold precious x

-Colin Colognori Thomson

Anna was a very special and beautiful soul. Warm, spiritual, funny and sharp as a tack. The world has lost a fabulous personality but our lives have been made so much richer for having her in our lives. I will miss her immensely.
-Carole

Anna, I am so sad to see you go yet so happy to have known you. The first time we met it was me you and Ava Moon and a conversation I'll never forget. So much so, that every time I travelled to the astrology I found myself thinking.I wonder if Ann will be there. I will treasure every memory from first to last when we had that extra long hug.Your essence will always be present in our astrology hearts. xx

-Laurana

Anna was such an inspiring and wonderful well of astrological knowledge. So sorry to hear of her passing. It’s a great loss and she will be so missed.

-Jenny Smith

A lovely, modest, knowledgeable astrologer who was always happy to help and advise. She had a lovely energy. A privilege to have met her.

-Sandra McEwan

Although I only met Anna 2 years ago when I moved to Edinburgh, I was lucky enough to get close to her thanks to mutual friends. Anna was such a gifted astrologer and the pleasure she got from sharing her gifts with others was palpable. I am very sad to have both lost her and to have had so little time with her. She was bright until the very end and her light keeps on shining. Thank you Anna xx Rest in peace 💗

-Mireille

I met Anna in 2017 it was her name and number on the SAA contact page at the time; she answered the phone so cheerily and put me at ease straight away and we chatted for an hour! Anna warmly greeted me when I met her in person doing astrology with her in Edinburgh. We struck up a personal friendship and bonded more as we both had cancer diagnosis’s and supported each other throughout as they developed constantly for the both of us. We had many phone chats and met up when we could. We made many plans for this year, so it is with great sadness knowing she won’t be part of them. I have a big Anna shaped space in my life now. I will never forget the cheery way she always answered the phone, I will just never forget my dear friend Anna always in my heart.

-Julianne Buchanan Pyper

Anna knew what she was doing when she chose the professional name, “Estaroth”.

Astarte was the Phoenician name for Venus, and a variant of that name, Astaroth, became associated with demonology. Anna carefully avoided that, but there was more than a touch of the occult about Anna, with her knowledge of crystals, standing stones, tarot and anything woo-woo, not to mention her fondness for the Venusian colours of red, green, blue and purple.

What marked her out was the breadth of her astrological knowledge. She could spot an overlooked midpoint at a hundred paces. She had had so many clients that she could tell on a practical basis what any combination of planets and signs would do.

She was intuitive, perceptive, thoughtful and discreet. She is a great loss to the world of astrology, but instead of charting the heavens, she is now returned to them.

-Nicholas Greer

I had the great honour of being a friend and a colleague of Anna Estroth.

Anna was unique! Truly, she was a one of a kind woman, an individual that brought so much to all of her interactions. She was unforgettable!

Anna was kind and skillful! I had the pleasure of teaching with her. It was wonderful to be by her side as she shared her many insights into all things astrological. Equally, to witness how she would gently guide the students, offering both encouragement and instilling confidence in their learning and application.

Anna was passionate and loved to share her joys! Some of my fondest memories of Anna took shape on the northern Scottish Islands when I accompanied her to assist in her fieldwork on Neolithic Orkney.

While I had always had a keen interest in ancient sites, Anna excited and deepened my interests like no other in my life. As we engaged directly with the sites of The Ness of Brodgar and Skara Brae, taking measurements, Anna addressed all the lead and assistant archaeologists by name and she took great interest in the work of the other student archeologist projects.

By far the most memorable for me was the trip we made to the Cairns of Rousay, just northwest of Mainland Orkney. The amount of time and care that Anna took to speak to me of the archeology, of the stories of these places, and to convey the great importance they had to the people of the Neolithic swept over me.

As we had our little lunch, taking refuge from the island winds in her little car, she told me of her memories of visiting the ancient sites of the British Islands with her father, how her work was dedicated to him and his passion for them. Having just visited the Knowe of Yarso, which held an abundant amount of red deer alongside human remains, it was a glorious sunlit day as we looked over Midhowe Chambered Cairn and the Iron-Age Broch to the northern coast of Mainland Orkney. Hearing her speak of all these things, as she did, it felt ever so timeless and peaceful. I already adored Anna, but my love for her deepened that day, and I too fell madly in love with Neolithic History of Scotland.

I am overcome with respect and admiration for Anna Estaroth! Anna was a one of a kind woman, she was unique, skillful, passionate, and loved to share her joys with others! I now have the great privilege of being one of the many whose lives she touched, changed, and encouraged. Through sharing my passion, her passion, for these places, Anna’s memory lives on!

-JD Kelley

I am deeply saddened to hear this news. Anna was the most amazing astrologer, a magical person and I am so honoured to have known her and been taught by her. May she rest in peace.

-Felicity

I first met Anna at the Astrology shop in Edinburgh. I had booked a consultation for one hour and left two hours later full of information and a hunger for more. Anna ignited my interest in astrology. Her enthusiasm shone through. A kind, loving soul. Anna has been a thread in the tapestry of my life and I feel blessed to have known her. My thoughts go out to her family.

-Allison Knell

Anna ran a couple of online classes in astrology during lockdown. I learned so much from her and valued her insights and humour and I'll miss those.

-Deborah Pitt

I learned from Anna's wisdom and curiosity, and was frequently cheered and delighted by her humor. She managed to be truthful and kind, and was too wise to ever be dogmatic. She helped discussions stay respectful, adventurous, and warm. I was honored to know her.

-Sheila Roher