Dr. Nicole Rawls
Anthropologist Astrologer Artist
~An Anthropologist Committed To A Liberatory Humanity
Octavia Butler Birthday Bash Fundraiser!
June 21, 2025
7pm
Women and Children First Bookstore
5233 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
Women & Children First Presents Octavia E. Butler's Birthday Bash Feat. Kemi Alabi, Dr. Moya Bailey, Sarai Bernice, Julian Randall, Dr. Nicole Rawls with music by Roy Kinsey and RAMA.
Please note: This event is ticketed and tickets are required for entry. Masks are required for our in-person events.
On the evening of June 21st 2025 from 7-9pm we will gather to celebrate the birth and visionary mind of Octavia E. Butler. Through live music, readings, and creative performance we will honor a writer who saw what others refused to imagine. Please join us for this communal celebration and ancestral offering. Ticket sales will be donated to the Altadena Community Preservation Fund, a fund that provides direct cash payments to black homeowners and small businesses who were impacted by the Altadena/Pasadena fires. We give the most gratitude to these terrific minds who will lend their voices, visions, and hearts to this celebration.
How do we learn to embody the knowledge we have learned?
What does it mean to strategically dream as a way to world-build the societies we say we want to live in?
Can we allow ourselves to play in the dreamscape(s) and bring those dreams into reality?
If we are our ancestors’ wildest dreams, how do we dream WITH them as a liberatory practice?
These are some of the questions I explore in my Patreon as a way to create a space for people to imagine our world differently and then dare to bring those imaginations into reality. Subscribe to learn more and have access to exclusive content.
MAY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
I offer a number of different astrological assessments - listed below. Refer here for more detailed information on each and to book!
Journey to Self (Natal/Baseline Reading)
A foundational astrology reading that explores your birth chart to understand your core self, purpose, and key life themes.Graduation Reading
A reading for individuals transitioning from academic, professional, or personal training into the next chapter of their life, providing insights into this major life shift.Partner Readings
A combined reading for romantic, business, or parent-child relationships to explore how two individuals’ energies interact and how to best navigate their dynamics.Astrology Assessment (Journey to Self)
A more in-depth astrology reading as part of the Embodied Futures Lab, where the natal chart is explored to help clients align their lives with their authentic self and goals.Parent-Child Reading
A reading that helps parents understand how their child’s astrology chart can inform healthier, more effective parenting strategies while breaking unhealthy family patterns.Business Relationship Reading
For individuals in or considering a business partnership, this reading helps partners navigate how their astrological energies interact to create a sustainable and aligned business partnership.Romantic Partnership Reading
A reading to understand how romantic partners’ astrological charts interact, focusing on how to maintain individuality while fostering a strong, harmonious relationship.Understanding Your Spiritual Gifts Reading
This reading dives into your nodes and the dark houses (4th, 8th, and 12th) to explore your ancestral gifts and deepen your connection to your spiritual essence, using astrology and ancestral traditions.Astrology Salons
Group sessions focusing on astrology to learn and discuss astrology in community, helping participants gain deeper insight into their charts and the cosmic influences on their lives.
Dr. Nicole Rawls
Welcome! My name is Dr. Nicole Rawls and I am an anthropologist, astrologer, poet, and strategic dreamer.
I use my knowledge and training to deconstruct societal mindsets and imagine a world without oppressive systems governing us. I obtained my Ph.D. in Anthropology from Michigan State University in 2011, specializing in race, racism, citizenship, and the nation-state. I previously taught and worked at Michigan State University, The University of Bristol (UK), Beloit College and Brown University before leaving higher education in 2021. You can read more about me here.
My work and offerings are multifaceted.
I am the founder of the Embodied Futures Lab and Dream Praxis Studios. With a focus on creating clarity, choice, and action through a humane lens, I offer cultural and organizational strategy services to individuals and organizations/businesses alike through a process I call “ embodied strategic dreaming”. I am really interested in exploring the question: What does it mean to be human? And to answer that one must go on a ride through space and time and understand how we became a society that values dehumanization in the first place. This is where my creative work comes in. As the creator of “Embodied Strategic Dreaming” I help others learn to believe and embody their experiences and learnings and work in the dreamscapes as a way to strategically world-build the societies we say we want to fully live through my podcast, Patreon, writings, speaking, astrological analysis, creative projects, and active social media presence, where I discuss a wide range of topics including the concept of the human, ancestors, and society. My multidisciplinary approach allows me to bridge the gap between academia and spirituality, offering a unique perspective that challenges existing norms and encourages individuals to imagine a world free from oppressive systems. I am currently working on my first book, “Reclaiming My Wild: A Modern Day Marronage Folktale” (working title).
My passion lies in my commitment to social change and the belief in the transformative power of imagination and dreaming to have us come back to our humanity.
Yappin w/ the Stars - The Podcast
(LATEST EPISODE)
Full Moon in Sagittarius: Where Does Your Faith Lie? Weekly Forecast for June 11-17, 2025
In this episode of Yappin' with the Stars, I’m talking about the Full Moon in Sagittarius and its conversation with the Nodes of the Moon in Virgo and Pisces. It’s a week to reflect on faith, beliefs, and authority—and more importantly, where we put our trust.
Here’s what I’m digging into: Faith and Authority: This full moon is pushing us to question who and what we’re putting our faith in—and why. I’m breaking down the tension between what we’re conditioned to believe and the body’s intuitive knowing. Who or what do we give our authority to, and how do we reclaim it?
The Nodes of the Moon and Releasing the Past: With the moon squaring the nodes, it’s a time to shed the old, critical thoughts we’ve been holding onto. The South Node in Virgo is asking us to let go of outdated beliefs, and the North Node in Pisces is calling us to embrace the unknown. I talk about how we can bridge the gap between what we’ve learned and where we need to go.
Jupiter in Cancer: Jupiter’s in Cancer now, and I’m reflecting on how it’s pushing us to rethink nurturing, care, and safety. With everything happening in the world, I’m asking how we define care—not just for ourselves but for the communities we’re part of.
Self-Reclamation and Identity: As Mars in Leo pushes us to confront our internal battles, I’m talking about how we can defend our own sense of self. What are we willing to fight for, and how do we do it without compromising who we are? I’m digging into what it means to stand firm in your truth.
Rewriting Stories: This full moon is showing me where I’ve been holding onto outdated dreams. I share how I’ve had to reframe my ideas around faith, creativity, and authority—especially as I keep redefining what freedom and liberation look like in my own life.
This episode is all about the tension between the past and the future, our intellect and our intuition, and what it takes to stand firm in your beliefs—especially when everything around us is shifting.
Book A Consultation!
You have a vision. You’re building something bold, something necessary—but you don’t need to do it alone. Through Embodied Strategic Dreaming, I help visionaries, creatives, and leaders turn their biggest ideas into actionable, sustainable strategies.
Whether you’re a founder, a creative, or an organization seeking clarity, we’ll design a roadmap that aligns with your purpose and leads to real transformation.
