July is about healing, focus, and making a change. Cracks in the foundation are being shown, and depending on your perspective, you can move forward toward change or entertain the negatives. Perspective is everything, and as the month begins in Cancer Season, emotions can cloud your vision. Thankfully, the Capricorn Supermoon on July 3rd will be bringing things back to reality and helping you find your ground through the emotional whirlwind that has been. This Full Moon is an activating time that’s creating breakthroughs, building new bridges, bringing things full circle financially, and shining the spotlight on what needs to be seen.
There is even more earth energy flowing through the collective in July, with Mars entering Virgo on the 10th, where it will be until August 27th. Mars in Virgo is dedicated, compassionate, and efficient. Mars in Virgo gets things done, focuses on good health, and lends a helping hand to those who need it, and this is where a lot of people are taking action right now. This month there is positive energy flowing toward acts of service, routine, and creating order; however, be careful not to get lost in the details and perfectionism that you miss the full picture. On July 11th, Mercury enters Leo, and mentally, there is a strength here that is helping those overcome any mental burdens that have been influencing their daily life.
On July 17th, there is a New Moon in Cancer that will be closing out Cancer Season. This New Moon is a good time to set your intentions for love, emotional harmony, family, and the home. This New Moon is highlighting the emotions but is creating an opening to greater love, protection, and honesty where needed. This new Moon is about meeting your needs, dreaming the dream, and showing up for love. A few days later, on the 22nd, Venus goes retrograde in Leo, and Leo Season begins. This is when things really start heating up and when change prevails. Venus will be retrograde in Leo until September 3rd, and egos are more likely to clash during this time.
Honor the value of self-love, and you will see how this directly influences your relationship experiences with others.
As the month comes to a close, Chiron, the wounded healer, goes retrograde in Aries from July 23rd until December 26th, and Mercury enters Virgo from July 28th until October 4th. Healing is taking place in July, and sometimes it happens when we least expect it. The more you can find the balance between your head and your heart right now, the more you can see things clearly. July is therapeutic and is needed.
ARIES
AriesKyra Jay for xoNecoleJuly is all about going after what you want, Aries. Focus on your positive intentions and create a plan to succeed. You have the energy, the charisma, and you are in the right place to make things happen this month. Mars, your ruling planet, moves into your 6th house this month, and you are all about good energy, good health, and creating routines that both nourish and bring order to your daily life.
You are someone who is independent and who loves to do things alone, and this month you are realizing that you can accomplish your personal goals with others by your side. The New Moon on the 17th of this month is happening in your 4th house of home, and you are connecting to those that have your back and support your well-being. July is a perfect month for you to set your intentions and show up.
TAURUS
TaurusKyra Jay for xoNecoleThis month is a time of finding your balance, Taurus. You are feeling in tune with the ebb and flow of life, and you are seeing a positive return on the things you have been investing in. Energy is everything, and you are receiving the abundance that you have been giving. A Supermoon is happening in a fellow earth sign at the beginning of the month, Capricorn, and July 3rd will be a time of clarity, closure, and happiness for you. Don’t be afraid to communicate your needs this month, Taurus.
Moving into July, Venus goes retrograde in Leo until September, and for you, you could be spending more time at home over the next few months. Your safe spaces are where you feel most comfortable and loved, and right now, that’s with your family, close loved ones, and objects of treasure. Over the next few months, you will be tuning into your heart and discovering where you want to lay down new roots, where you can give yourself more TLC and self-care, and who you want along with you for the ride.
GEMINI
GeminiKyra Jay for xoNecoleJuly is a month of communication, executing your plans, and seeing through the smoke and mirrors. You are rising above what’s been and are ready to see things in the light, Gemini. At the beginning of the month, you are feeling things through and taking the time to honor your emotional well-being, rest, and seek more time tending to your own needs. You are prioritizing your time and energy and focusing on the things that truly matter to you at the end of the day.
The New Moon happening this month on the 17th is a time for you to set intentions when it comes to your finances, income, balance, and self-confidence. This New Moon is urging you to see how willing you have been to see a new beginning here and will be opening new doors that you will have to find the courage to walk through. Venus goes retrograde for the summer toward the end of July, and for you, this time will be helping you communicate more effectively and to re-discover some of your truths.
CANCER
CancerKyra Jay for xoNecoleCancer Season is underway, and July is a month of love for you, Cancer. This is a time when partnerships in your life are thriving, and your life is colored by love. You have come to such a good place emotionally that you can’t help but to rejoice in where you are and your current reality. Things are changing, but you are embracing every moment of it. The Supermoon on July 3rd will be when you begin to see these changes and growth within love and when you are getting the full picture of some important relationships in your life.
The July New Moon will be in your sign on the 17th, and this New Moon is a magical one. You are in tune with the universe, and where your life is is where you want it to be. Set your intentions for the path you see for yourself in the future, and don’t be afraid to take risks right now. July is all about investing in yourself and your relationships. You have what it takes to feel balanced in not just one but many areas of your life, and this is the month that’s opening that door for you.
LEO
LeoKyra Jay for xoNecoleJuly is all about owning your strength, Leo. You have been moving mountains, and this is another one of those months where some more courage is needed. Your mind is especially active this month with Mercury entering your sign on the 11th, and this energy can lead to overthinking. Meditate, find your ground, and gain new inspiration. You are protected as you prepare, focus on yourself more, and figure things out this month.
The New Moon on the 17th is when you are ready to let go of the past, heal, and see how better things will be for you when you free yourself from past burdens. You deserve healing, and as Venus goes retrograde in Leo from the 22nd until September, you are finally getting that opportunity to heal. Leo Season begins on the same day, signifying a time when the focus is on you and your heart and when you are experiencing a personal transformation.
VIRGO
VirgoKyra Jay for xoNecoleJuly is a month of abundance for you, Virgo. Your cup is full and overflowing, and you are feeling gratitude for the blessings that are appearing for you now. This is a month to honor your skills, dedication, work ethic, and determination and to accept your due rewards with an open heart. The Supermoon at the beginning of the month is showering some love and receptivity in your life, and you are feeling heard and seen in July, Virgo. You are entering the month with an inner confidence that is leading you to success.
Mars enters your sign on the 10th, where it will be until late August, and you have more energy at your disposal during this time. You are all about action and putting in the effort, and your spirits are high this month. Mercury enters Virgo before the month ends, and more energy is working in your favor. Your mind is in the right place, and you are turning dirt into diamonds. This month is reminding you that you deserve to enjoy the successes you work so hard for, and there is plenty of it to enjoy.
LIBRA
LibraKyra Jay for xoNecoleJuly is a month where you get to take a deep breath, Libra. You have been worried about the things you are seeing come to fruition this month and seeing that everything turned out better than expected for you. Your career, finances, and safety nets are a big priority for you right now, and you are experiencing positive revelations here this month. The Supermoon happening at the beginning of July is helping you feel more grounded and fruitful and is bringing good energy into the home for you.
The New Moon happening later in the month is aligning with your 10th house of career and achievements, and you are claiming your successes. You have been working on your skills and mindset and are in a position now where you can help inspire and give opportunities to others. You are seeing growth financially in July, and life is coming full circle for you. Before the month ends, Venus goes retrograde in Leo, and this for you will be tapping into your friendships. Try to see all perspectives and focus on building your community right now.
SCORPIO
ScorpioKyra Jay for xoNecoleThis is an inspiring month for you, Scorpio. You are feeling enlivened after somewhat of a stagnant year, and you are reaching for the stars right now. One thing is happening after the other, and you have been looking forward to this change of pace. The Supermoon on the 3rd will be opening up new channels of communication for you and will be giving you some clarity on the answers you have been looking for. You are ready to move on from what hasn’t been working and are effectively seeing new pathways and opportunities in your life.
Mars moves into your 11th house of hopes and dreams, friendships, and community in mid-July, and you are spending more time around your soulmates and your people over the next month. You are in a social time in your life, and there are plenty of fun experiences to be had. Venus goes retrograde at the end of the month and will be bringing things into perspective when it comes to your career, reputation, and where your heart stands with how you are showing up for your goals. Be patient when it comes to what you are trying to achieve right now.
SAGITTARIUS
SagittariusKyra Jay for xoNecoleDivine timing is everything this month, Sagittarius. Your intentions will seed to fruition, but some more time may be needed right now. Remember that protection can sometimes look like rejection and that what is meant for you will be for you. With Mars aligning in your career zone over the next month, you may be feeling more pressure to perform, to be successful, and to reach the goals you have been working towards. However, don’t forget to appreciate where and who you are now while you strive for what you want to become.
There is a New Moon on July 17th that will be in your 8th house of commitment and intimacy, and you are getting an opportunity to see where you feel that emotional receptivity in your life and where you can be a little more vulnerable and experience more growth here. Giving yourself and others grace is key this month, and it's best to not take anything personally. Venus goes retrograde in a fellow fire sign, Leo, at the end of the month, and it’s best to plan out all of your adventures thoroughly over the next few months.
CAPRICORN
CapricornKyra Jay for xoNecoleJuly is the start of something new for you, Capricorn. You are ready for a new adventure, and you are embarking on one right now. This is the month when you are seeing previous roadblocks disappear and new life appear. There is a Supermoon this month on July 3rd, and it’s happening in your sign. You are closing out a chapter of your life that felt more personally limiting to you and are breaking free from what has been. This Full Moon is a time of letting go of what was and getting excited about what’s to be, and this is an impactful time for you.
Mars moves into Virgo on the 10th and moves into your house of adventure, travel, education, and spirituality. The next month is a great time for you to travel, spend time in nature, and explore the world around you. This is an inspiring month for you overall, and you will be getting into a lot of different fun activities. The New Moon happening before the month ends is occurring in your sister sign, Cancer, and love is moving into a new chapter for you. Your willingness to move forward is creating more room for love to enter your life.
AQUARIUS
AquariusKyra Jay for xoNecoleIn July, you are embarking into the unknown, Aquarius. You are taking a leap of faith in yourself, and you are trusting that the universe will be there to catch you. You are finding your balance with what you are working on letting go of and where you want to be, and you are being nudged to get out of your comfort zone more this month. The Supermoon happening at the beginning of the month will be helping you overcome fears and see where this has been coming from so that you can heal and let go where needed.
Moving further into July, there is a New Moon on the 17th, and this is a good time for you to set your intentions for your daily life, routine, health, and working world. Get things in order this month, and focus on what is going to benefit you now and in the long term. Venus goes retrograde in Leo on the 22nd before the month ends, and you are going to be learning a lot about love and your close relationships and will be experiencing a rejuvenation and change here over the next couple of months.
PISCES
PiscesKyra Jay for xoNecoleFireworks are going off for you this month, Pisces. July is about seeing the growth in your life and about enjoying the present moment. You are free to be, to live, and to love, and you are feeling all the things this month. With a Supermoon at the start of the month happening in your house of hopes and dreams, you are feeling inspired to live your life to the fullest and to nurture the things that light you up inside. You deserve to take those moments out to enjoy your life, and you are great creative when doing so right now.
Mars moves into your sister sign, Virgo, on July 10th, and you are motivated to connect, focus on your one-on-one relationships, and express your heart. You are feeling the passion for love and your relationships, and love is in the air for you in July. What you believe, you can make a reality, and you are seeing some of your intentions for love manifest for you this month. The New Moon on the 17th will be ushering in some more good energy into your love life, and this is a month of romance for you. Look at new beginnings in your life as the blessings they are, and have fun this month, Pisces.
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Featured image by Kyra Jay for xoNecole
RELATED
Taja, an actress known most for her role on BET’s The Oval, and businessman/model Ryan Easter tied the knot on July 27 in an intimate and beautiful wedding in LA - surrounded by friends and family. During our 40+ minute conversation, the newlyweds opened up about the inner work journey they both went through individually to become their best selves.
Taja revealed that her grateful and light spirit came after being in a depressive state and doing a great deal of healing and education. And Ryan shared how losing a parent as a youth affected how he showed up in the world and the truths he had to face to embrace who he is wholly.
The pair also chatted about the power of intention, the importance of working through trauma, and the work they do every day to honor their partnership. There’s a reason their glow is so beautiful! It comes from the inside.
“You're meeting me now after I've done all this work, but I had to go through it to get to that space and be in a very happy, healed relationship,” Taja says. Check out the layered conversation below.
xoNecole: I’ll start with the most obvious question: how did you two meet, and what were your initial feelings about each other?
Ryan Easter: We connected through friends. At the time, I was in New York, and she was back and forth between LA and Atlanta. But our mutual female friends were together and decided they needed to set me up. So they confirmed I was looking for something serious and then sent me her picture.
And I was like, "Okay, she looks good - a chocolate drop." But then I thought, "What's wrong with her? So, I called them up, and one of them was messing with me and said, "Oh, she's a little crazy." I was like, "Whoa, I can't do crazy anymore. I've dealt with that before. I’d rather stay by myself than deal with that again." Then she clarified, "No, I'm just kidding. She's crazy in a good way. She's a lot of fun and has her stuff together. That’s how it started for me.
Taja Simpson: I was just going about my life, getting ready for another season of The Oval, when I got a text from my friend Natasha. She said, "Hey, I don't think you're dating anybody, but I have a friend I think you should meet. He's a great guy." She gave me this huge pedigree, saying they had been friends for 19 years. I thought, "Wow, he sounds amazing." But when she sent me a photo, I didn’t like it.
Later, I thought about it and figured it could just not be a good picture. So she sent his Instagram which had all these modeling fitness pictures and stuff. And then I was like, wow - you had my whole husband this time and didn’t tell me - now I told her she could give him my number.
"I was just going about my life, getting ready for another season of The Oval, when I got a text from my friend Natasha. She said, "Hey, I don't think you're dating anybody, but I have a friend I think you should meet. He's a great guy." She gave me this huge pedigree, saying they had been friends for 19 years. I thought, "Wow, he sounds amazing." But when she sent me a photo, I didn’t like it."
Taja Simpson & Ryan Easter
Photo by @jorgemezaphotos
xoN: I love that because, you know, there's all these conversations about the ways people meet, and I still feel like friends and family are one of the best ways. It’s like they know you! What are your thoughts?
Ryan: Yeah, absolutely! You feel a great sense of obligation to be the best version of yourself because you’re not just representing yourself; you’re also representing the person who referred you. I can’t go out there acting like a fool and have them looking at their friend like, "Why did you hook me up with this clown?" It’s like, we're gonna be clear and honest about our intentions. And if it works, great, and if it doesn't, it's okay.
Taja: Exactly. When he called, we spoke that day for like, an hour. The rest was history. We just connected, and it was great. After that, we started talking every day, and now here we are.
xoN: Okay, so tell me about your first date! Do you remember where you went? What did you do? How was the vibe?
Taja: Our first in-person date was two months after we met over the phone. This was during COVID, so we got introduced in July 2020 but didn’t meet until September. From July to September, we were doing video dates and phone calls, building up this excitement about meeting in person. I was really nervous. I thought, "Oh my God, is it going to be like it was over the phone?" We really connected and vibed. I was there to pick him up at LAX, and I felt like this was it. I thought, "God put this brother in my life to be this good, this perfect." It felt too good to be true.
I actually had a friend meet us at the airport to film our meeting without him knowing. I told her to stay in the corner and keep the camera hidden. When he was coming down the escalator, I had this whole plan to run up to him in slow motion and jump into his arms. When I saw him, I froze. I was so nervous that I couldn’t move! He came up to me, gave me a big hug, and swung me around, and I just thought, "Wow!" Everything I planned went out the window.
Ryan: I was really excited to meet her, too. Technically, our first date was at Firestone Brewery. After the airport, we went back to her place to drop off my stuff, and then she said, "I like to drink beer," so she took me to a brewery nearby.
I remember being there, and we were kind of embracing, but not too much since it was technically the first time we were in physical proximity. You still have to play it cool, even after talking for a while. But every time I touched her, it felt good. I thought, "Yeah, this is it." When we hugged at the airport, I felt like, "Yo, this is home." At that moment, I knew she was the one.
xoN: Ugh, I love that. So when did the courtship start to develop into a relationship? Did y'all have that conversation?
Ryan: Initially, we were very clear about our intentions. We were both dating with purpose and had similar aspirations of eventually finding someone to marry, start a family, create businesses together, and live our lives to the fullest. We knew from the beginning that this was our goal and checked in with each other to see if we were on the same page.
After establishing our intentions, it was about having those small conversations. We discussed what was important to each of us—our needs, wants, likes, dislikes, triggers, and traumas. All those details are crucial for building a solid foundation for a healthy relationship. We spent a lot of time getting to know the real person, not just the representative we might present to the world.
Sometimes, it’s difficult because it requires us to be extremely vulnerable. For men, especially in our society, vulnerability is often frowned upon, making it hard to expose that sensitive side. You never know how people will react—some might use it against you, while others might protect you.
I think for her; it took her understanding that mentality that men have and use that to her advantage to make sure she's like, look, this is a safe space for you to allow me to see the full person that you are. I appreciated that because, like, I would tell her, if you really want a man to value you, he has to feel safe with you, right, not necessarily in a physical capacity but more so from an emotional standpoint; I need to feel like I can be safe with you emotionally.
So that courtship was a lot of just having those serious, sometimes difficult conversations about things we're going through in the past to things we aspire to accomplish in the future, to things that we're currently dealing with, and started to gain that understanding about who we are and what we aspire to be, and just continue to flow.
"So that courtship was a lot of just having those serious, sometimes difficult conversations about things we're going through in the past to things we aspire to accomplish in the future, to things that we're currently dealing with, and started to gain that understanding about who we are and what we aspire to be, and just continue to flow."
Taja: I mean, that's exactly right, and a lot of it we spoke about even before we met. Because it was this free thing where we didn’t know each other. We didn't have to be a representative. I was just my authentic self. It’s like - I'm an actor, and I got five or six characters that may come out in our conversation. I'll be funny, then the next moment, I'll be serious. It just happens.
I was very vocal about how I foresee my life going. Also, because I'm in entertainment, that played a part. I had met people before who couldn't handle that. They wanted a woman with a nine-to-five, a teacher, or just somebody with a very strict schedule. But that wasn't me. So I think we were super intentional when it came to dating and making sure we can build and grow together. So, we made that commitment prior to him leaving. He came to LA for a week, and the day before he left, it was like, okay, so this is it.
xoN: I’ve noticed that intention and vulnerability are both powerful words that you two keep using, which I think is essential for any long-term relationship. What are some of your other shared values?
Ryan: Also, we both understood the power of mindset. When you see successful or unsuccessful people, sometimes others will attribute their state to their family or money. And I'm not saying that that doesn't help. But there are a lot of people who have come from very humble beginnings and very troubled past that have gone on to do great things, and it all had to do with their mindset. They had to leave and see themselves doing what they desired to do before it became a reality in the physical realm.
I think a lot of those beliefs and mentalities that we shared was refreshing because, you know, we've all known people that every time you talk to them, something bad is going on. And it's such a drag because they can bring your energy down. We don't subscribe to that. Not saying that we don't go through tough times. But when we do, the question that we always ask ourselves is, what is it that I'm supposed to learn from this? I think those type of elements of just being in alignment mentally about how we view the world definitely help to solidify our relationship and our connection.
Taja: When we met, I was in a headspace of growth. We now call it believe, evolve, become because you have to believe that thing right in order to show up. We both understand that your vibration precedes your manifestation, so you have to vibrate and believe at a certain level. Act as if you have to be in that space, that energy, in order for that thing to come so you can evolve and then become whatever that said thing is. But I was in that headspace before we met, and I was clearing out people in my life.
I was really intentional with finding someone that was in that headspace, too. I was not okay with anyone being stagnant.
Taja Simpson & Ryan Easter
Photo by @jorgemezaphotos
xoN: You two seem so evolved individually and collectively. I'm curious, were there any challenges that you two had to get through together, and what did you learn from that experience?
Ryan: Being parents. And if your partner doesn't have a great pregnancy, then it can be tough, and it stretches you in a lot of ways. But I would definitely say the first five months of being new parents was a lot because we were both exhausted. And she's also trying to heal her body because giving birth puts a tremendous amount of stress on the woman's body. It gives you a different respect for the strength of femininity because I wouldn't want to go through that. And I was there the whole 29 hours.
So during that time I'm getting snappy because I need to rest. I have not been able to rest, and I'm sleep-deprived, and I don't feel like I got my foot in yet. And, and then, on top of that, you have this, this really small human that's completely dependent upon you. They can't do anything for himself, and that, even psychologically, that's a lot to carry. But the thing that I think that has helped us is that we understand that we won't always be on the same page. It's okay to have disagreements, but you always have to lead with love, meaning that if I'm upset with her or she's upset with me, we focus on what the issue is.
Taja: I had a horrible pregnancy and was still feeling like I want to be productive; it’s just part of who I am. And during the newborn phase, like he said, we were exhausted. We were zombies. I'm getting whiny. I need sleep. He's getting snappy and short, and we're having to figure out us. The hardest thing is trying to still learn how to effectively communicate in the midst of this space where you are exhausted; you don't feel good, nothing's going your way.
But I'm a big believer of being accountable, especially for women, because women are not always accountable. But we encourage each other to address the trauma and encourage positive self-thought and talk. Because what you think, speak, and do creates power for better and worse.
xoN: Were there any past traumas you had to heal from in order to love each other correctly, and do you feel comfortable discussing them?
Ryan: For me, the biggest thing was my father’s death at nine. You’re young, and you don’t know how to process the loss. It’s one of those things I thought I dealt with, but when I got into my adult years, I realized it didn’t. I always felt like I had to go above and beyond because I didn’t have my father there to be a man - I excelled in sports and academics, but it was based on an inadequate feeling.
I understand the importance of fathers in children’s life but you still have the power to be the best version of yourself whether your father is there or not. And I believe the almighty Creator will put people in your life to be the best version of yourself. I wanted to be that confident person for her and our children - and I didn’t want to carry that trauma into our relationship or our son. So I worked on it before us and I continue to now.
Taja: Mine was colorism. I grew up where the brown paper bag thing was a thing. There were kids I couldn’t play with because “I was too Black.” I had a family member who called me “Ew.” Like she’d literally say, come here, Ew, you ugly thing. And my family, for a long time, didn’t realize how it was breaking me. But eventually, my mom noticed and taught me more about self-esteem and then I started to do the work. But it still shows its head. I still would have thoughts that I’m not good enough because of how I look. I’ve literally not tried out for roles because of that. One of my friends’ friends has literally called out once that I was the only dark person at an event.
So when I started doing the work, I noticed the ways it showed up, like I just wouldn’t want to be in the sun long. I mean when I was younger, I used to pray to God to make me “better” or lighter. It took a long time to really get over that. There’s a book I wrote called Women Who Shine - where I got my thoughts out about this.
So he knows my sensitive spots and speaks to the little girl in me. It's so interesting how the things we go through when we’re young affect us in adulthood. Mental health is as important as physical health - and I’m grateful that he understands the importance of both of those.
xoN: Thank you for your vulnerability. I hope it helps someone else. Finally, I’ll close with this: what’s your favorite thing about each other?
Ryan: Definitely her mindset. She doesn’t have a victim mindset; she’s empowered. That’s so attractive. I believe that she prides herself on being a good, great communicator. She moves with integrity, you know, I think that's important. And you know, she also understands the importance of taking care of her physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
Taja: There’s so many. Where do I start? My husband is supremely supportive. I absolutely love that about him. Also, I love his intention. I love how effectively he communicates. I love how he fathers our child. I love how he looks. Because, praise God. Okay, I'm just gonna put that out there.
But you know what, my favorite thing about him is that I love that he's a man of integrity.
Integrity was the highest things on my list when I’d write out what I wanted in a partner. Because it’s everything. And so I love that I feel the level of safety that I feel with him, that I can completely be my 100% authentic self. I know that he's taking care of me, my heart, and our family. We're good.
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Feature image by @jorgemezaphotos
