Praesidium
$45.00
A talismanic perfume created for Sphere + Sundry’s Deneb Algedi II election by thee Elizabeth Barrial of Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (and Twilight Alchemy Lab!) —
If you have built castles in the air, your work needs not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
– Henry David Thoreau, ‘Walden’
It is almost impossible to have peace of mind without a strong foundation and a sense of safety, and the past few years have shaken many of us to the core. This oil was crafted to assist in finding equilibrium and strength in all aspects of your life. Praesidium is an oil of grounding, helping you construct a stable groundwork upon which you can build your dreams.
Jasmine absolute and petals (Jasminum grandiflorum), sweet marjoram essential oil (Origanum majorana), Spanish marjoram essential oil and herb from the TAL garden (Thymus mastichina), myrrh essential oil and tears (Commiphora myrrha), rose absolute and petals from the TAL garden (Rosa damascena), pink lotus absolute (Nelumbo nucifera), poplar bud absolute (Populus nigra), lavender essential oil and buds from the TAL garden (Lavandula angustifolia), wild-harvested pine needles (Pinus sylvestris), hyssop herb and oil (Hyssopus officinalis), fir balsam essential oil (Abies balsamea), borage leaf (Borago officinalis), motherwort herb (Leonurus cardiac), comfrey leaf and root (Symphytum officinale), frankincense essential oil and tears (Boswellia sacra), passionflower herb (Passiflora incarnate), hops flowers and essential oil (Humulus lupulus), sumac berries (Rhus coriaria), and blue chalcedony.
Available in BPAL’s iconic 5 ml apothecary bottle for $45
In stock
Info
| Weight | 1 oz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 1 × 1 × 1 in |
| Fixed Star | |
| Planetary Body | |
| Influence | Benefic, Neutral |
| Vegan | Yes — contains NO animal ingredients |
| Creation Date | Waxing Gibbous Moon conj. Deneb Algedi + Jupiter on the MC, September 17th, 2021. Chart in image gallery. |
| Size | 2.5 oz, 4 oz |
Testimonials(9)
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Degree of Exaltation Mars Oil
Series, Anointing Oils, Sold Out, Mars' Degree of Exaltation
Triple Purification of Asclepius Ritual
Series, Sold Out, Asclepius IThis is a three step ritual involving the elements of fire (incense), water (spray), and salt (either form). The set comes with all of the required elements from the Asclepius series and a copy of the rite, with directions to perform it on yourself, others, or any given space.
Deeply purgative and sanitizing, useful for super powered cleansing and purification. Appropriate during times of sickness, dramatic negativity, grief, unwanted paranormal disturbances, streaks of bad luck, or before or after significant procedures, whether medical or magical.
The small set includes one half ounce glass vial or spray of ritual salt, incense, and water, for $52.
The large set includes a complimentary rose of jericho, both forms of salt and the largest available size of each item — one half ounce vial of ritual salt, one eight ounce jar of bath salt, one two ounce jar of incense, and one two ounce spray of Asclepius water, for $130. If you would like everything in the series, including the oil and/or talisman, the full set includes the rite for Triple Purification.
You may also choose to add organic coconut charcoal to your order. Note that the charcoal must be lit on a burner, as it contains no saltpeter.
Bath Salt of Asclepius
Series, Sold Out, Asclepius IAs detailed in the series description, ritual baths were one of the first steps taken to cleanse those who made pilgrimage to temples of Asclepius in pursuit of healing, and salt is a natural agent of purification in ways both physical and metaphysical.
Dead Sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, and epsom salt were combined with essential oils of frankincense, cypress, and tea tree, alongside herbs from the incense mixture, with Asclepius’ blessing.
Draw a bath and add the mixture to the water. Includes a prayer to Asclepius and suggested times for ritual potency. Fully immerse yourself, occasionally wetting the full head and hair for best results. Soak for 13 minutes or more.
The formula of this salt is highly concentrated with essential oil to make less go a longer way. Available in an eight ounce jar, enough for 2 deeply purifying baths, or add smaller amounts to many, utilizing the principle of contagion.
An elegant, serene, woodsy scent that evokes the feeling of being in a temple. Inviting of deep contemplation and a sense of settling down to earth. Very lovely, supportive, and reassuring in a muted way.
Such a beautiful perfume oil! The most noticeable scent to me is the jasmine. I can be a bit sensitive to myrrh notes in some perfume blends, but this one doesn’t bother me, which is wonderful. I’ve used this as part of my DA offerings, and the sweet scent of the jasmine permeates the area around the altar for hours. It’s calming, in a surprisingly gentle way- as well as being very grounding in the way that DA so often is. Very happy that I took a chance and purchased this one!
This smells so lovely, very jasmine rich with a strong backbone. I find this to be pleasantly grounding, a nice day to day fragrance.
What a blessing this oil has been to me. I feel like it highlighted some ways that I was not living from a grounded place, whether it be in my career or romantic life. I have learned a lot over the past few months of application, and I feel myself becoming more steady and serious in the areas in which I need to. Thank you!
This BPAL is very grounding and motivating for me. It’s part no nonsense, part get the important stuff done and imbibes a sense of structure and foundation to tasks. For anyone who needs perspective, the ability to thwart procrastination or a sense of direction I highly recommend!
This is such a lovely scent. Strongly floral, I get jasmine from it the most. Not overwhelming though, I really enjoy it. It has this sort of classic allure and it feels very tranquil and soothing to me.
I put this in our diffuser and keep it running in our living room. It pulls me towards a sense of uprightness in the home: getting the good stuff done, less procrastinating, less drama. More pragmatic, no frills, when compared to other S&S materia but super helpful!
Praesidium to me smells absolutely floral (no herbs/pine), and the experience was akin to finding a fully made flower crown on the ground and putting it on your head. It felt easy and natural. (Again, more analogous to Empress experiences than the OG DA). Can say from a scent perspective, the jasmine/honeysuckle notes in Praesidium is very much making me think Venusian influence, but that might be my natal Venus in Capricorn being happy about the flower crown.
On the 2nd opportunity I wore Praesidium layered on with other DA2 materia, I was told that it was more like akin to ivy on a building. It’s there, anchored. Not really calling attention to itself, and felt natural.
BPAL magic at its best…some of Elizabeth’s fragrances take me on trips down memory lane for healing and regathering past selves. This one started off at Juniper Breeze/Cucumber Melon, Bath and Body Works circa 1990s? last night, upon drifting off to sleep, I moved further back in time to the scent of Lancome and Coppertone sunscreen mixed together, basking and baking all summer long at the town pool on thin cotton terry towels as a kid. I haven’t felt that sense of being in my body with such ease in a long time, that was a good reminder. I wonder where it will take me next? This oil has not been the easiest to work with personally, but anointing it forehead, nape of neck, solar plexus, sacrum, achilles heel has been the journey we are on, forging that core stability anew.