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Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton was no stranger to alchemy. In 1936, Sotheby's released a catalogue describing three hundred twenty-nine lots of Newton's manuscripts, mostly in his own handwriting, of which over a third were filled with content that was undeniably alchemical. These manuscripts raised a host of interesting questions in 1936 as they do even today. Was the founder of classical physics an alchemist?¹
Alchemy was not about the production of precious stone that could change base metals into gold or give immortality. As Jung repeatedly wrote, alchemy was the continuation of Gnosticism, a religious current preoccupied with the reaching of gnosis, a particular experiential knowledge.
In his books and most particularly in AION (1951), C. G. Jung was clear about the goal gnostics were seeking: the mystical experiences linked to the expansion of consciousness. Those specific mystical experiences appear as a symbol representing the conjunction of opposites. Experiences of being merged or one with the universe, nature or God are regular occurrences showing the conjunction of opposites particle-whole. Other opposites that often appear in mystical experiences are exterior-interior and the symbol is lived as if the whole world is inside the mind of the experiencer.
Those experiences of conjunction of opposites were known in Antiquity. Gnostic writings used the magnet or the magnetic agent to refer to transcendent experiences because the magnet has two opposites poles. As Jung rightfully noticed, their writings show three kinds of magnets which bear the names water, serpent and logos. They represent the three successive mystical experiences on the path to complete consciousness.
Isaac Newton seems to have understood that alchemy was about consciousness and his notes demonstrate this knowledge. In Keynes MS. 21, Newton wrote
The method of the work.
There are three periods of the stone with respect to three different states of the work or (as Geber saith) three stones, which are 3 medicines answering to 3 degrees of perfection of the work. The stone of the first order is the Philosophers matter perfectly purified & reduc't into a pure mercurial substance. That of the second order is the same matter coct, digested & fixed into sulfur incombustible. That of the 3d order is the same matter fermented multiplied & carried on to the utmost perfection of a fixt permanent & tinging tincture. These 3 stones are 3 medicines of 3 orders. ²
Newton underscores here that the three stones are of the same matter which is consciousness. It is well-known that the prima materia or prime matter and the end-product of the alchemical process are the same thing. Consciousness is only expanded during the process. Newton's three stones are the three experiences of the Gnostics. Alchemist Gerard Dorn (1530-1584) who was an intense subject of study from Jung, also defined three conjunction of opposites which he named unio mentalis, lapis philosophorum and rotundum.
Isaac Newton, one of the most intelligent man to have ever lived, did not fall for the popular belief that alchemy was about gold or immortality. He understood clearly that it was a secret knowledge about the increase of consciousness. He certainly engaged on the path to reach those stones and the study of his writings could indicate which stage he effectively achieved.
For more, read
C. G. Jung's Transcendent Function: his Insight into Mystical Experiences
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¹From The Chemistry of Isaac Newton https://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/newton/project/about.do
²From Keynes MS. 21, King's College Library, Cambridge University