Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole.
Hi Nicole, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Helping others has always been my passion, though I never imagined it would lead me to small business ownership in this chapter of my life. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, I began my professional journey as the Community Outreach Director at the local YWCA. There, I had the immense blessing of working under the leadership of Carolyn Flowers, a woman whose guidance and mentorship shaped much of who I am today. Through her example—and the local, regional, and national opportunities I was given—I learned invaluable lessons in leadership, compassion, and purpose.
Being surrounded by accomplished women has been a resounding theme throughout my life, beginning with my mother, Bertadean Baker, and extending through generations of strong, resilient women in my family. Interestingly, my business was born from that same strength—a strength I didn’t know I possessed until life asked me to rise into it.
On May 27, 2020, my daughter, Samiyah Grace, was born. It was an uncertain time; the world was facing the early months of COVID-19, and my pregnancy carried its own challenges. Prenatal testing showed a possibility of Trisomy 18—a 10% chance that, as a mother and a lover of science, I somehow knew in my spirit was real. My husband and I chose to continue the pregnancy, and as further testing confirmed our fears, we also began to understand that this journey would be both sacred and transformative.
Samiyah Grace blessed our lives for 20 months and 29 days. I count each day because I believe every one was a miracle. Those months were full of love, challenge, and indescribable joy. Samiyah awakened parts of me I didn’t know existed—strength, creativity, and the courage to begin again. Rising Sun Holistic Health was one of those awakenings.
My business became a living reminder that just as the sun returns after the darkest night, we too are called to rise—glowing from within, honoring our cycles of rest and renewal, and choosing wholeness no matter what life brings.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey to business ownership has been anything but smooth, yet it’s been deeply meaningful. I’ve learned that our trials aren’t meant only for us—they often become the very light that helps others find their way. Rising Sun was born from loss, but that same loss nearly silenced me. There were days I couldn’t imagine creating again.
In that fragile season, another influential woman entered my life and offered me a part-time position. She was a business owner herself—someone who recognized my potential and understood how vital it was to keep moving forward. Working alongside her reignited something within me. I began observing, asking questions, and quietly taking notes. Each small task reminded me that momentum matters—that one step, however small, can lead to another.
She taught me that starting is sacred. Saying “yes,” even when you’re unsure, is an act of faith. I’ll never forget my first vendor market. I said yes before I was ready—without a tent, without a plan, with only one product to sell. But I showed up. And that simple yes changed everything. If I had waited until I felt fully prepared, I might still be waiting.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Rising Sun Holistic Health?
Rising Sun Holistic Health is a sanctuary for ancestral wellness and modern self-care. My work is deeply inspired by the women in my life—especially my grandmother, whose kitchen herbalism shaped the way I understand care, healing, and nourishment. So many people I’ve spoken with have fond memories of how their mothers and grandmothers cared for them with herbs and intentional practices. It is from that legacy of knowledge and love that I create my offerings for the community. Every product is made with organic botanicals, intention, and a deep respect for the body’s natural rhythms.
I specialize in handcrafted herbal blends designed to help people slow down, restore balance, and reconnect with their inner light. Beyond products, I offer one-on-one consultations, group educational events, and curated moments of sacred rest in the Raleigh/Durham area.
What sets Rising Sun apart is the way we weave ancestral wisdom with contemporary wellness, blending the sacred and the sensory. Each offering is created not just to soothe the body, but to speak to the spirit, inviting people to see rest and nourishment as everyday acts of remembrance and self-love.
I am most proud that the brand feels grounded and deeply human. Rising Sun Holistic Health isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about honoring the daily act of rising, choosing yourself even when life demands more. Our offerings are crafted with care, reverence, and the belief that wellness can be both simple and sacred.
Whether you’re lighting a candle, steeping a cup of tea, or soaking after a long day, my hope is that you feel more connected to your breath, your body, and your own sunrise.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Rising Sun Holistic Health has quietly found its way into the routines of medical doctors and wellness advocates, including Dr. Philippe Bulauitin, who incorporates Golden Sunrise into his wellness rituals. Yet at its heart, the brand is deeply personal. It was born during one of the quietest and most uncertain seasons of my life—not as a business, but as a journey to listen to my body, ease anxiety, and practice the sacred art of rest.
Golden Sunrise was the first creation to emerge from that space: a herbal blend suspended in honey I sipped at sunrise and during the golden hour to soothe the inflammation in my body caused by grief. It reminded me that no matter how heavy the night, I could rise. And it carries forward the wisdom of my grandmother, whose kitchen herbalism taught me the power of care, intention, and ritual in everyday life.
My process is deeply intuitive; every blend is a conversation between spirit and plant, between what I’ve learned and what I’m still mending. Rising Sun Holistic Health grew from that practice of listening, creating, and honoring ancestral wisdom. It’s more than a brand—it’s the language my soul learned to speak. And it’s an invitation for anyone seeking balance, renewel, or a moment of self-care, to experience the quiet power of rising for themselves.
Pricing:
- Golden Sunrise – $25
- Amber Rest Herbal Bath – $12
- One on One Consultation – $75
- Premium Consultation – $150
- Group events and moments of sacred rest – Free+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://risingsunholistichealth.com/
- Instagram: @TheRisingSunHolistic
- Facebook: @TheRisingSunHolistic
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@TheRisingSunHolistic
