Rita Thompson stands on the first-floor front porch of her astrology shop at 14 S. Westfield St. in Feeding Hills.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
AGAWAM — It’s been decades since Agawam has had someone practicing astrology as a business. But that is no longer the case now that the Agawam Astrology Shop is open in the center of Feeding Hills.
Rita Thompson, who has 40 years of experience practicing astrology, offers palm readings, tarot card readings, meditations and crystal readings. She said in some ways she’s like a therapist because she helps people who are looking for guidance in their lives.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
Thompson, who also has an astrology shop in Chicopee, said she leads a lot of meditations and works with spiritual candles — which she also sells in her shop. “I do a lot of chakra meditation, which is where I have my clients lay down and meditate with special herbs. They tell me how they feel and I tell them what the spirits tell me they should do,” said Thompson.
She said her goal is to guide people in ways that show them how to make peace with themselves or how it’s important to forgive everyone.
“And if they have some kind of spiritual problem or love problem, I coach them on how to help their relationships. My clients see very good results,” she said.
According to the American Federation of Astrologists, astrology began as way to bring a sense of order out of apparent chaos. It was used to predict weather patterns, primarily for agricultural purposes, and was eventually broadened to include forecasts of natural disasters, war and other events. Astrology soon progressed to be used to provide guidance for human affairs.
Thompson said she discovered she had a “gift” for astrology when she was 13 or 14.
“It’s a gift that I was born with, and I got it from my grandmother. It skipped a generation. My mom did not have it, but I picked it up,” she said. “I was seeing things — and I was a little spooked.”
She told her grandmother that she was not only seeing things but also hearing and feeling things. Her grandmother said not to worry, because what was happening was a gift that Thompson needed to use for good and to help people.
“She taught me not to be scared of it and just accept it,” she said.
Thompson, who moved to Agawam after recently getting married, said she did some research before deciding to open her shop in town. “I saw that there hasn’t been an astrologist or anything like that in Agawam for many years. So that inspired me to try to help people in the community.”
She said that when she began talking about her business plans, people encouraged her.
“People were very excited about having my astrology shop here — and this is a good location, right in the center of Feeding Hills — which made me really excited about it. And, it just felt good, like a good connection, a good vibe for me,” Thompson said.
One of her biggest challenges as an astrologer is people who Thompson said “don’t have open minds and open hearts.” While many people really believe in astrology, she said there are many who don’t.
“It’s sad that people don’t believe in it and accept it. They really can be helped. I wish people accepted astrology more.”
Thompson said some people also come to her with “unrealistic” expectations.
“If I can’t help them, I tell them I can’t. If they want me to communicate with people who have passed and stuff like that, I can’t do it,” she said.
She added that she has had clients who just refuse to hear the truth.
“They say the truth hurts and some people don’t want to hear that. It’s a challenge to make them try to understand that. They’re just too resistant,” Thompson said.
The Agawam Astrology Shop is located on the first floor of 14 S. Westfield St. in Feeding Hills. The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. To make an appointment call 413-302-9368.
