This is a powerful year of love for the world. With so many changes and transformations happening on a global scale, this year we are focused on the roots and support systems that ground us through it all. In numerology, 2022 is a 6 Universal Year, a number representative of love, support, service, and balance. Relationships are at the forefront of many people's lives this year.
Jupiter is also making its every-decade transit in Pisces now, a water sign based in the emotional world and the transcendent experience of love, and right now, it's all about moving beyond ego, and into unconditional love and the higher heart. If the past few years have taught us anything, it is that love is all we have at the end of the day.
Aries
Cosmpolitan UK
Love for you this year, Aries is about transcending any boundaries, limitations, and emotional patterning from the past that doesn’t serve you now. With Jupiter moving through your house of the unknown, spirituality, endings, loss, healing, and renewal for a large part of the year, you are experiencing a transformation on all levels of life this year, including love. Your ruling planet Mars goes retrograde at the end of the year, from October 30 to January 1, 2023. This is when you are learning more about your passion and direction in love.
Being your resilient, free-spirited self, you are able to overcome anything that comes your way with passion and grace. Love wants to move to new levels in 2022, and you are creating space for your peace, your future, and the love and redemption that are coming in for you now, Aries.
Taurus
Cosmopolitan UK
Love is where a lot of passion is this year, Taurus, and also where a lot of the activity is in your life. With the North Node moving through your sign, your ruling planet Venus in retrograde at the beginning of the year, and the eclipses of the year moving through your house of love, relationships are renewing for you. You are finding the balance between self and others, and you're understanding more of the relationship dynamics in your life, what works for you, and what doesn’t. There is a lunar eclipse on May 16 and a solar eclipse on October 25, transiting your house of love. This is when you will see turning points within your relationships.
It’s all or nothing for you right now, and your love is claiming its space. Find your ground through the different changes and transitions you are moving through this year, and trust the love that is blooming for you this year, Taurus.
Gemini
Cosmpolitan UK
You're strongly focused on your career and the new paths you are taking there Gemini. When it comes to love, you are looking for what aligns with the goals you are seeing through right now. There are peak moments of activity for you when it comes to love this year and these times are the supermoon in Sagittarius on June 14, when Venus enters Gemini from June 22 to July 17, and when Mars goes retrograde in your sign from October 30 to January 1, 2023.
Love this year is about lifting yourself up from any patterns you’ve felt stuck in here, and aligning with the compassion within you. Speaking with others about how you are feeling, getting trusting advice, and listening to the intuition of your soul are key for you when it comes to love this year, Gemini.
Cancer
Cosmopolitan UK
You are learning the most when it comes to your partnerships, devotion, and stability in love this year, Cancer. With Saturn moving through your house of intimacy in 2022, love for you is about the bonds that are forming and have formed, about which structures and dynamics here have been serving your relationships, and which ones are being released now. Healing is prevalent within your emotional world this year, and you are unfolding within new chapters of love. Venus is in Cancer from July 17 to August 11, and this is when you are especially seeing some new beginnings in love.
This year is about emotional renewal and transformation, and about love because it is your birthright. Strings that have been attached are losing their strength, while bonds and commitments that allow you to be, love, and connect are strengthening for you this year.
Leo
2022 is stabilizing the blessings you saw in love in 2021. With Saturn moving through your house of love and partnerships over the past few years, you have been on a deep and, at times, challenging experience of love. Saturn is finishing its last full year here, and this year you also have Jupiter in your 8th house making sure you receive your due blessings within your commitments while you continue to build your new foundations in love.
There is a coming together happening for you this year where everything you’ve learned over the past few years is giving you the clarity on which relationships have truly been there with you through it all, how much you have grown personally, and within your connections in life. There is a supermoon in your house of love on August 11, and things are coming to fruition for you in love this summer, Leo.
Virgo
This is your year of love, Virgo. With Jupiter moving through your house of love and partnership this year, the North Node transiting your house of romance, and two eclipses in your 5th house this year, 2022 is a year of new beginnings and manifesting your dreams in love. This year is all about your courage of love, and your commitment to the seeds you have been planting here. Life is reflecting everything that you feel within. The more you stay in your confidence, remember how worthy you are, and allow love to be, the more effortless your experience will be this year. There is support, love, and connection around you, and although you love to do it all yourself, you don’t have to do it alone this year, Virgo. Love is showing up.
Libra
Love for you this year is about figuring out what makes you happy, Libra. With your ruling planet Venus being in Retrograde as the year starts out, you are entering 2022 doing some reflecting. This year is about the different cycles you have been through within your relationships, and about coming together with what you want for yourself now. Saturn is moving through your house of romance this year and you are addressing any blockages or challenges that have been preventing you from feeling loved and secure.
Love gets more serious with Saturn moving through this area of your chart and you are taking care of the environment around you right now. There is a sacred convergence occurring for you this year, as love manifests. Venus will be in Libra from September 29 to October 23, and this is a good time to set intentions in love.
Scorpio
You are dancing to the beat of love this year, Scorpio. This year brings with it profound changes within love and an acceptance of the unconditional support that is there for you. You are being moved by love in 2022, and are seeing your own personal revelations and becoming in the process like the ever-evolving Scorpio you are. With the North Node officially in Taurus and moving through your house of love this year, partnership awareness is what this transit brings for you.
The different balance dynamics, needs of your partner, or needs of a relationship, in general, are highlighted for you this year as any unresolved karmic issues are looked at and healed. With Jupiter moving through your 5th house of romance, the universe is blessing you with the true gifts of partnership this year--and that’s the pure joy, pleasure, and light that it brings.
Sagittarius
Your passion is leading you forward in love this year, Sagittarius. You’ve never been afraid to stand on your own, and this is why so many are so enticed with you. In 2022 you are paving your own paths in love and defining what foundations and commitments support what you are trying to grow here. It’s about quality over quantity right now, and emotional stability and security are where your heart is this year. You are taking care of your inner world, creating art with your passions, and letting love fall into place. Venus enters Sagittarius from November 16 to December 9, and you are ending the year on a high note in love. As you stand tall in your being, you attract all to you, and 2022 is about self-love, intimacy, and being your fierce self, Sag.
Capricorn
Love brings with it a breath of fresh air for you this year, Capricorn. You love a good success moment and this year you are seeing those within your relationships and commitments. There is a pinnacle moment on your journey of love being reached this year, and you are finding yourself in the right place at the right time. With Venus Retrograde in your sign at the start of 2022, you had a special key given to you and this key was the acknowledgment of what’s been below the surface for you in love that needed to be addressed, as well as clarity on your relationship to self-love and how you keep this eternal flame burning.
You are communicating more of your need and wants in love this year, and seeing a nice reciprocation and flow within your relationships because of this. Focus on where you want to spend your time and energy this year, and rise Capricorn.
Aquarius
You have been on a journey of self since 2020 when Saturn first entered your sign. With 2022 being the last full year of Saturn transits through your beloved sign, this year is your epiphany year, and your year where you receive more of the blessings from the growth--and at times tough decisions--you’ve had to make when it comes to love. You’ve learned how to put yourself first more and make decisions that reflect the intentions of your heart, and this year you are seeing more of your intentions in love manifest for you.
You have self-clarity like no other this year and it’s leading you to the places you need to be in love. You are nurturing your world, your intentions, and your heart, and allowing space for those who support that and are on the same page in 2022, Aquarius.
Pisces
With your Jupiter transit, a once-every-decade transit of luck happening this year, you can be sure this extra juju is going to be flowing through your romantic world as well. Love this year is about moving beyond fear, beyond the unknown, and into your magic. There are opportunities on the other side of doubt, and you are releasing and moving forward this year, Pisces. With Saturn moving through your 12th house this year, you are continuing this cycle you have been in when it comes to emotional healing and spiritual reflection, and are finding ways to let more people in your bubble this year.
2022 is all about shining your heart light and allowing love to transcendent any beliefs, stigmas, or fears, and be just what it is, love. You are worthy of love, and you always have been Pisces, claim it this year.
Featured image by Getty Images
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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
Will Platt, who is also from the area, is the visionary behind The Bank. The Bank is an acronym for Blessing All Neighborhood Kids, which is an excellent description of the work Will and his team do. They host many community activations, such as back-to-school bashes, and are preparing for their third annual Banks Giving, which includes a fresh produce and turkey giveaway.
"I'm from this side of town, so I was born over here, and I knew most areas that you go in that's underserved, you're not going to find a 10-star restaurant nowhere," Will said.
"So, even the people that have been in the area for quite some time, you have to travel north to Cobb or south to Camp Creek to get a decent meal. So I wanted to reinvest into my community."
When it comes to the food at The Vault, it is truly a delectable experience. Chef Kevin heads the kitchen and gives patrons a variety of dishes inspired by his Caribbean and Southern upbringing and his 30 years in the food and beverage industry, working for British Airlines and a five-star resort on Kiawah Island, which is located off the coast of South Carolina.
He shared a few flavorful Thanksgiving dishes that are perfect for families, potlucks, or Friendsgivings. And I can attest that these dishes are delicious.
Fried Turkey Wings
Courtesy
"We have turkey wings on the menu. So what we did is, I actually didn't cook it all the way. I usually hold back a couple pains, and cook it 75% of the way. And we actually batter it in the same batter as chicken batter, so it can actually adhere to the skin, and then we actually deep fry it, which gives it a different taste," Chef Kevin explained.
"During the holiday times, a lot of people are now going away from regular big turkeys and they're just going straight to fried turkey. So fried turkey is something we serve all the time, but it 's always gonna be a holiday treat."
Shepard's Pie
Courtesy
"I just took a lot of parts of turkey (breasts, loins, etc.), and I sautéed it down until it's nice and tender, and actually finish it off in the oven with some herbs like rosemary, oregano, sage, and thyme," he said. "And on the bottom of it, I have all the vegetables; I got carrots, I got peppers, onions, celery, some peas, and some corn, and also have some mushrooms inside of it."
He added, "Shepard's pie is something that you can basically take to wherever direction you want to take it with. Here, I used red potatoes because it's more flavorful than just regular white potatoes because, actually, red potatoes, the skin is still on it. Inside the potatoes, I have cream, butter, and I add a little bit of parmesan to actually give it a crisp for the crispness of the inside of the mashed potatoes."
Collard Greens
Courtesy
"I spin it a little bit with the collard greens. I add both a sweet to it, and then I add a little bit of acid inside of it, so there is some vinegar inside of it. I also have a little bit of brown sugar inside of it. For the heat, I add a little bit of traditional hot sauce. And then once you let it cook out, all it's gonna do is just jelly, make a nice flavor."
Southern Deviled Eggs
Courtesy
"Cajun sautéed shrimp is on it, and it has crab meat on it. That's Backfin crab meat, so it's really tasty crab. And, of course, the regular filling for the deviled eggs. I don't use regular mustard. I use Dijon, so it gives a better flavor because it has the white wine in it and actually brings it out. We put pickled relish inside of it to keep it Southern but infuse it with a little bit of high-end stuff."
Cornbread
Courtesy
"This is our house recipe of our cornbread. We actually sell cornbread muffins. So for, aesthetically, I just put it inside this cast iron pan and make it seem like we at grandma's house. And then cooking in a cast iron pan tastes much, much better. My cornbread muffin is actually served with one of our dishes. We have what you call a southern plate, and it comes with four chicken wings, a piece of that cornbread, some of that collard greens, and some candied yams."
Cabbage
Courtesy
"We push our cabbage a little bit further. That's why you see the color on it because we actually sautéed it to a point 'til it brings out the flavor of it. We leave a little bit of crunch to it, but we sauté it really, really, really hard so you can have those nice flavors inside of it. And it has the red peppers and green peppers, onions inside of it as well."
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Feature image by LauriPatterson/ Getty Images