PD Newman and the Making of the Philosophers’ Stone

By Khalil Reda

Since the 2013 publication of his first article 'The Sprig of Acacia: A Symbol of Our Faith in the Immortality of the Soul', PD Newman has written prolifically on a variety of esoteric subjects, especially concerning the use of entheogens in Western magical traditions.

Newman’s work has been widely published and can be found in esteemed publications such as Ethnomycological Journals: Sacred Mushroom Studies, The Invisible College, Dragibus, The Transactions of the Mississippi Lodge of Research, The Scottish Rite Journal, and at least fifteen other journals/magazines. His articles have been published on numerous websites including a feature on Graham Hancock's website as 'author of the month', and his interviews on podcasts and YouTube channels are too many to list here.

So, how did I become interested in Newman's work?

I'll come right out and say it. I had a flash of inspiration that a processed form of Acacia is the philosophers’ stone after a particularly powerful experience with a small dose of an Australian Acacia extract.

One form of one of the 1,000-plus Australian Acacia species

Extracts from Acacia trees can give you unbelievable, indeed spiritual, visions - a taste of what it means to be unconstrained by your own body. As many are now aware, modern research into the effects of tryptamines (and serotonergic psychedelics in general) on the brain shows that they can in fact rejuvenate neuronal connections and enhance neural plasticity as well as Nerve Growth Factor. In a sense, they keep you young! DMT specifically is currently being studied in relation to the reversal of the effects of Parkinson’s disease, and restoration of lost motor function caused by strokes.

My experiences with extracts of Acacia have been so visceral and profound that they've led me to contemplate the independent existence of the soul from the body, and from that follows the question of the immortality of the soul - the connections to the oft-mythologised philosophers’ stone now become clear! Healing, rejuvenation, a sense of a form of immortality… it’s all there. All except transmuting lead into gold, but that’s a different story for a different time.

In the years since I was introduced to this tree in around 2018, I have experienced many wonderful things - a vision of an unspeakably beautiful golden city; traveling at high speed in a rainbow sarcophagus through a wormhole; my chakras lighting up like a pinball machine... I could go on.

The particular inspirational experience to which I’m referring was unusually powerful, for a dose of only 33mg. I felt like I had been given a very special experience, and on a hunch, over the following weeks I began to search online for references to Acacia as the philosophers’ stone.

I came across a few of Newman's articles, and between these articles and the use of search engine terms such as 'Acacia philosophers’ stone', followed the trail back to some primary sources, the most jaw-dropping of which was the historian of magic Henry Ridgely Evans' text Cagliostro and his Egyptian Rite of Freemasonry, published in 1919.

This text shocked me. In it, a master speaks to a student about the making of the philosophers’ stone, and after much circumspect speech, the master directly reveals to the student the primal (or first) matter of the work, in absolutely plain language:

Hearken: The acacia is the primal matter and the rough ashlar the mercurial part; and when this rough ashlar or mercurial part has been thoroughly purified, it becomes cubical. [...] It is now a question of purifying it by following out the seven philosophical transitions which are symbolized by the seven steps placed before the door of the temple; [...] It is thus that you may bring about the marriage of the sun and the moon, thus you may come by the tri-angular stone and bring about the perfect progeny.

This passage validated for me the knowledge that at least as far back as 1919, a certain number of Masons believed that an extract of Acacia is the philosophers’ stone. But how many? And where did this idea come from?

Emblem 21 in Michael Maier’s 1617 book Atalanta Fugiens

Another relevant source I found, which Newman wrote about later in his second book, is the 'Angelicall Stone’ of Elias Ashmole, found in the 1682 Theatrum Chemicum Brittanicum, and its bestowal of divine gifts upon the operator.

Lastly, as touching the Angelicall Stone, it is so subtle, saith the aforesaid Author, that it can neither be seene, felt, or weighed; but Tasted only [...]. It hath A Divine Power, Celestial, and Invisible, above the rest; and endowes the possessor with Divine Gifts. It affords the Apparition of Angels, and gives a power of conversing with them , by dreams and revelations [...]

St. Dunstan calls it the Food of Angels, and by others it is termed The Heavenly Viaticum; The Tree of Life; and is undoubtedly (next under GOD) the true AIchochodon, or Giver of Years; for by it Man’s Body is preferred from Corruption, being thereby enabled to live a long time without Food: nay 'tis made a question whether any Man can Dye that uses it. [...]

After Hermes had once obtained the Knowledge of this Stone, he gave over the use of all other Stones, and therein only delighted: Moses, Solomon, together with Hermes were the only three that excelled in the knowledge thereof, and who therewith brought Wonders. That there is a Gift of Prophecy hid in the Red-stone, Racis will tell you; for thereby (saith he) philosophers have foretold things to come [...]

In Brief, by the true and various uses of the Philosophers Prima Materia (For there are diversities of Gifts, but the same spirit) the perfection of the Liberall Sciences are made known, the Whole Wisdom of Nature may be grasped: And [...] There are yet hid greater things than these, for we have seen but few of his Works.

The front cover of the Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum.

Comfortable now that my inspiration had a solid foundation, I leaned into the research and bought a copy of Newman’s Alchemically Stoned, the Psychedelic Secret of Freemasonry, taking particular interest in the section on Acacia.

PD has written a second book, called Angels in Vermilion: From John Dee to DMT, which is even more explosive than his first. It covers sources from ancient Egypt to Elizabethan England, focusing exclusively on historical use of entheogenic Acacia, and features a 3200-year-old Egyptian recipe for Acacia beer, amongst many other amazing things!

Could high caste ancient egyptians have inhaled the vapours of concentrated extracts of Acacia from the ends of incense burners? Ramses III incense offering to Amun at Medinet Habu, c. 1170-1185 BC

It makes me wonder who else is as excited as I am for what Newman publishes next! As it happens, he is on the verge of releasing a new book: Theurgy: Theory & Practice – The Mysteries of the Ascent to the Divine.

His future directions of research, I understand, are centred around two very interesting subjects.

The first of these is the North American 'Path of Souls' as known through study of the Mississippi mound building culture/Great Southern Death Cult which relates to the soul’s return journey to the stars after death, but also the soul's journey using entheogenic sacraments during initiation ceremonies and shamanic experiences. Dr Greg LIttle has produced a video on the subject. 

The second subject is the work of the philosopher and alchemist, Zosimos of Panopolis (Circa 300AD), from whose work we first learn of the work of making the 'Stone of the Sages' as Theodor Abt calls it in the introduction of his translation of Zosimos’s The Book of the Keys of the Work.

Zosimos in his books references a number of lost works belonging to (pseudo)Democritus, Maria Prophetissima, and Agathodaimon, whom he refers to as the Sages.

Excerpted Image from Theodor Abt’s 2016 English Language edition of the Mushaf as-Suwar (The Tome of Images) by Zosimos of Panopolis

It’s official! PD Newman will soon be in Sydney to deliver a presentation on these fascinating subjects. If you would like to hear him speak, it will be fittingly held in the Egyptian Room at the Petersham Masonic Hall at 12pm on Saturday the 14th of January 2023. PD’s talk will be followed by a Q&A panel featuring APS-Sydney chapter lead Jef Baker, local plant medicine ceremonial facilitator Colin Hawkshaw, and neo-shamanic teacher, healer and musician Darpan.

A $65 contribution to the GoFundMe campaign secures your seat, a $95 contribution adds a signed copy of one of his books, or $125 with signed copies of both books, and please follow the event on Facebook for updates! Capacity is limited, so commit early to avoid disappointment.

Disclaimer: This article conveys one person's perspective and experiences, which are provided for informational purposes only. Psychedelics are not a panacea, and should be treated with caution and respect. The APS does not advocate breaking the law. If you are new to psychedelics, or would like to learn more, we recommend checking out our FAQ and our resources page.