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
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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
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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
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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.
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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You know, sometimes, when I go back and look at some of the articles that I’ve penned for the platform before, I truly can’t believe how fast time flies. Take the piece, “What's The Difference Between Being 'Religious' And Being 'Spiritual', Anyway?” — now, how in the world did it turn five this year? I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around it. And although the piece does address some key points — like the fact that there is somewhat of a difference between being spiritual and being religious (although more people should read James 1:27 in order to understand how the Bible defines religion to be…it just might surprise them) — I want to explore a deeper angle of our spirituality, along with what we should require of it.
Today, let’s look at spirituality from the perspective of “the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things,” “a quality that goes beyond religious affiliation, that strives for inspiration, reverence, awe, meaning and purpose…” (Murray and Zentner) and, perhaps, more than anything else, “the relationship between ourselves and something larger."
You know, it’s a woman by the name of Dr. Maya Spencer who once said, “Spirituality means knowing that our lives have significance in a context beyond a mundane everyday existence at the level of biological needs that drive selfishness and aggression. It means knowing that we are a significant part of a purposeful unfolding of Life in our universe.” Indeed.
And while keeping that in mind, if this is a time of your life when you would like to “clean or cleanse your spirituality” by doing things like removing negative energy, getting rid of old or counterproductive patterns and/or by stepping into an elevated space as far as your human spirit and soul are concerned, you might be pleasantly surprised by how easy and even fun that can be for you to do.
To effectively clean/cleanse your spirit, start by asking — and answering — the following five spirituality-focused questions:
What Inspires You?
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Remember how, in the intro, I shared that one definition of spirituality is “a quality that goes beyond religious affiliation, that strives for inspiration, reverence, awe, meaning and purpose…”? That is actually where I am pulling a lot of these questions from because, the reality is that focusing on things that inspire you, intentionally pondering your purpose, and also by encouraging yourself to become an overall better human being — these things definitely tie into your spiritual side whether you are “traditionally religious” or not.
And so, when it comes to cleansing your spirituality in this season, a great question to start off with is what actually inspires you? And listen, believe it or not, inspire is a pretty layered word. I say that because, while one definition is “to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.),” another is “to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence,” while synonyms of the word include excite, affect, cause, motivate, provoke, and instill. This means that if you truly want to say or do things from a place of inspiration, you need to produce things from a divine or supernatural space (interesting, right?).
The reason why it’s so important to “spring clean” in this department is, oftentimes you can be motivated or provoked by things that aren’t really all that good, healthy and/or beneficial for you (social media fast, anyone?) — things that take your mind off of what’s divine — sacred, godly and extremely good. As a result, you find yourself producing out of a mind and heart space that is compromised when it comes to your core standards, values, and even goals.
So yes, in the effort to cleanse your spirituality, begin by really reflecting on what you claim inspires you — then revisit what the word actually means…just to be sure that you are being honest with yourself about whether something or one is truly inspiring you…or not.
What Amplifies Your Purpose?
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Purpose is always something that is going to be a pretty big deal to me. That’s why I’ve written articles for the platform like “What Does It Mean To Have 'Purposeful Relationships'?,” “Please Stop Picking People Who Don't 'Fit' Your Purpose,” “The Conversation You Need To Have With Yourself Before The New Year Begins,” “How To Handle 'Purpose Fatigue'” and “5 Signs You Are Living Your True Purpose.” It’s because really, if you’re not focused, most of all, on the reason why you exist in the first place, nothing else is going to be fully, truly, and authentically fulfilling for you.
So, when it comes to this part of your spirituality, first take some time to make sure that you know what your purpose is. If you have no clue and you’re ready to find out, as a wise person once said, wisdom comes in the questions, even more than the answers, and Rockwood Leadership Institute has a whopping 132 questions that you can ask yourself in order to get to the root of what your purpose is here. On the flip side, if you do know and you’re just not feeling completely satisfied in what you are currently doing as it relates to executing your purpose, it sounds to me like you are going through a bit of a “purpose growth spurt,” and yes, there is such a thing.
For instance, I am very clear on what my purpose in life is — I am here to teach what I study and research about when it comes to the topics of covenant marriage, sex, and the biblical Sabbath. All are covenant principles that have been unbelievably compromised in a thousand different ways. However, as I evolve, transform, and mature, my understanding of what I know does as well, and that “upgrades” how I approach and share my purpose with others. You see, purpose is never supposed to be stagnant…it is ever-shifting as far as how you accomplish things within it.
And that’s why, spiritually, it’s so important that you make sure that you are AMPLIFYING YOUR PURPOSE. To amplify is “to make larger, greater, or stronger; enlarge; extend.” If you are not putting forth the effort to do just this, there is some spiritual cleansing that must be done because, if there is one thing about a person’s purpose, it’s the fact that it’s HUGE which means that there will always be plenty to do within it until their time on this earth ends.
What Makes You Love Better…and More?
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I believe I’ve mentioned before that a show that I loathe with every fiber of my being (and there really is so much to choose from these days — SMDH) is TV One’s For My Man. Not only is it a program that discourages full-level accountability, but it irks me to no end every time that it says that a woman did some heinous crime in the name of love. According to Scripture, GOD IS LOVE (I John 4:8&16). Not only that, but the Love Chapter in Scripture has a very healthy, sane, and mature take on how we should love and require love in return (I’m going to share two translations of I Corinthians 13:4-8 for expanded context):
“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always ‘me first,’ doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. Love never dies.” (I Corinthians 13 — Message)
“Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].” (I Corinthians 13 — AMPC)
Now, think about what you see displayed on television when it comes to relationships. Based on these verses, is it love? Is it really? Ponder all of the relationship content that’s on social media. Does it sound like this kind of love? Does it really? The times when you’ve done things that you know were purely rooted in selfishness, impatience, and/or refusing to do for others what you would want them to do for you — how can any of that be loving? If you do believe in God and you also believe that you were made in his image (Genesis 1:26-28), this means that a part of your own spiritual DNA is love. This also means that if you know that your love has been tainted by material or physical things (which, by definition, is the opposite of spirituality), it’s time to make some real adjustments.
That said, take some time, think about the people and things that you profess to love, and ask yourself if it’s really love or is it lust or entitlement or immaturity. Then ask yourself what you can do to love those individuals and items better.
Remember, since you are made from Love, it’s important that you love like you are.
How Effective Are You When It Comes to Compassion?
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Personally, I think that whenever someone does something reckless and then follows up with the Bible says not to judge, I find it to be a supreme level of gaslighting. The context of that verse is saying that in the way that you judge, you will be judged and that you should make sure that you are right in the area that you are judging before you judge someone else (Matthew 7:1-5); however, be clear that judgment is a form of accountability which is why there are also verses like “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24 — NKJV) that exist — not to mention the fact that discernment literally means “keen judgment” and the Good Book supremely promotes that: “Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; rebuke one who has understanding, and hewill discern knowledge.” (Proverbs 19:25 — NKJV)
And that’s why, any time the topic of “don’t judge” comes up, I am known for saying something along the lines of, “PUH-LEEZE. If I say ‘You’re cute,’ I just judged you. Humans don’t have a problem with judgment; they don’t like criticism or accountability.” And gee, is that unfortunate because it’s hard to grow without both of those things. However, the key that comes with being on the giving end of criticism or holding someone accountable is applying a quote by author Anne McCaffrey: “Make no judgments where you have no compassion.”
This world has a lot of…stuff going on, stuff that needs to be addressed and stuff that needs compassion applied while it is. By definition, compassion is about having concern for others, especially if what you see them going through, they have either told you or you can discern is tied to some level of internal suffering. And that’s why, in the spirit of spiritual cleansing, something else to ask is if you are holding others and even yourself accountable while operating from a place of genuine care and concern or is your ego just wanting to elevate itself or prove that it’s right?
You know, we’re living in a time when, more and more, people are frowning on humility which is unfortunate because a definite quality that comes with being a compassionate person is absolutely that — “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4 — NKJV)
It really is almost impossible to be profoundly spiritual without being a compassionate person. Is this an area that needs some “cleaning up”? If so, there is no time like the present.
What Encourages You to Be Wiser and Full of More Truth?
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Musician Jimi Hendrix once said, “Knowledge speaks, wisdom listens.” Aristotle once said, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Confucius once said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is the noblest; second, by imitation, which is the easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest." Thomas Jefferson once said, “The wisest men know their weakness.” Author Gift Gugu Mona once said, “A woman of peace is a wise woman who understands that peace is more powerful than trying to prove a point.”
And what does it mean to be wise?
People who can regulate their emotions are wise. People who actually learn from their experiences (and the experiences of others, so that they don’t have to experience everything) are wise. People who know how to tame their ego are wise. People who are flexible/adaptable, non-materialistic, are self-aware, can be relied upon for great perspectives and insights, and are teachable are wise. The self-disciplined are wise. The patient are wise. The non-entitled are wise. Those who prioritize well are wise.
Those who do not live above their means (across the board), they are also wise. And there is no way that you can be wise without being willing to be completely honest, yes truthful with yourself about where you could stand to gain more wisdom and what must be done — and sometimes sacrificed — in order to get it.
And so, as I close this piece out, when it comes to spring cleaning your spirituality, ask yourself who and what encourages and enables you to become a wiser individual — AND who and what hinders that from transpiring. Then be honest with yourself about what is challenging you for the better and what, frankly, is only dumbing you down. Indeed, in order to live out the full potential of your spirituality, wisdom must come into play. However, it’s important to keep in mind that, for wisdom to truly flourish, it is a conscious choice — a daily decision.
And it will never come so long as you are making up excuses, justifying poor behavior (check out “Accountability Time: Let's Stop Calling It A 'Mistake' When It Was A 'Choice'”) or lying to yourself about what needs to be done. Taking those approaches to life is literally the opposite of being wise.
A French priest by the name of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin once said, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” I can only imagine how much the quality of our lives would improve if we took that in on a very serious level.
The good news is you can choose to do it — right here and right now.
See yourself as a spiritual being.
Clean/cleanse whatever hinders that reality.
And watch how you begin to soar, supernaturally, by design, because of it, sis.
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