Portugal | THE MIDKNIGHT GARDEN: Home to The Serpent Priesthood & Knights of the Red Order.

Tag Archive: Portugal

QUEST 40: SPAIN & PORTUGAL WEEK FOUR: ‘HIDDEN SEQUENCE’

Filed under: The Quests — Leave a comment

August 18, 2025

“So the last week of this amazing quest has begun and as we make our way into northern Spain and up into the beautiful mountains, we know that more extraordinary experiences await us”

DAY TWENTY FOUR: THURSDAY 17th APRIL: Leave Casa Zinda Rua do, Portugal for a long yet very scenic drive to northern Spain

Cathedral Beach northern Spain. (Playa de las Catedrales) Lugo: Remnants from the past, a mix of carved cliffs, arches, and structures on the beach. A beautiful and unique beach and one of the most impressive and scenic sights on the north coast of Spain. There are towering arches here on the beach looking like flying buttresses of a Gothic cathedral. It is a spectacular scene which gets very busy in the summer. Interestingly these caves or the area, were once the dwelling place of an ancient civilization, the info of which seems to be lost in time. Its name was given by the tourism industry, and the original name is ‘Praia de Augas Santas’ (translated from Galician meaning ‘Beach of the Holy Waters’. The caves are accessible at low tide, and many folks were enjoying them on the day we visited.

Stay Casa Uría – Cam. Santiago. Berducedo. Spain, with mountain views

DAY TWENTY FIVE: FRIDAY 18TH APRIL: Colegiata de Santa María Magdalena: Cangas del Narcea, Asturias, Spain: Dedicated to Mary María Magdalena this church was built in 1633 CE. It rests in the oldest place in North-West Spain, is a baroque temple which gained the status of basilica in November 1992. We drove way up into the mountains, up very steep, windy and scenic roads. We wondered at the way civilization happened in these remote places, especially in our times, when all the trappings of modern life needs to be transported up and down the mountains. This church was an interesting site to visit, with something of interest to us occurring there too…

It was surprising to come across such a large town hidden amongst the mountains and we enjoyed a lovely walk around and a welcomed coffee, where in the coffee shop an observation did not go unnoticed.

“Out of the corner of one’s eyes is perceived a flicker, a movement, a figure? Someone is watching, waiting, observing, seeing all, telling all. Sometimes in the blink of an eye, a wanderer appears and then is gone….

Iglesias de Santa María de Celón. Lugar Celon, Asturias,Spain: Original 1139 CE, fully restored in 1982, then further works in 1986. It is interesting to note that this place was once the point of landing for those from the past… It was quite a rainy day but the mountains looked shimmery and photogenic with a bit of mist hanging around. This church was quite isolated up in the mountains, a peaceful spot though. The church is a Romanesque-style Roman Catholic parish church in the municipality of Allande, Spain and was was built in the 18th century on a previous building. There is a welcomed water point here, especially for hot days and for walkers on the pilgrim trail, of which we saw quite a few, even in the rainy weather.

DAY TWENTY SIX: SUNDAY 20th APRIL. Mirador da Pena I Boi , Spain, Asturias. A mountain viewpoint: The views were stunning and speak for themselves. There was also the remains of a building up there too, i think a chapel, so zoomed in to see it. Just when one thinks one is in the middle of nowhere, there is farm machinery – having got up there somehow!

Iglesia parroquial de Samartín. (San Martín del Valledor―Allande) Asturias, Spain: Built in 1452 CE, this small church holds the key to a ‘secret place’. 4,500 feet high in the Astrias mountains amid the most stunning scenery you could imagine is the little church of Saint Martins, truly charming with a surprise around the back.

The views everywhere in this mountainous region of Spain are straight out of a fairy tale, every direction is stunning. Today we could not get where we had planed for the road all but disappeared into a mud track, unsuitable for a vehicle such as ours. I did get out and walk a way but the track only got worse with no sign of our destination. However the views were stunning and so green and lush, and i did come across a row of stones in a field.

And because it was my birthday week Karl treated me to a tasty meal in the village restaurant!

It had been a lovely few day here in this little rural community at the top of the mountains. There was a couple of little cafes or shops, the restaurant and places to sleep for pilgrims and travelers. This area was part of the el Camino trail and the little shell signs indicated to the pilgrims the way through the village, right past where we were staying. Mostly it was rainy up here but could have been because we were so far up in the mountains, in the clouds in fact. The only strange thing to have happened was that once again we ‘enjoyed’ the company of the existing ‘tenants’ of the property who insisted on ‘bang banging’ their way through the night. Clearly we were not wanted – well it was their home!

DAY TWENTY SEVEN:MONDAY 21st APRIL: Leave Casa Uría – Cam. Santiago Spain

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Torrelavega, Cantabria, Spain: Built in 1198 CE, with completion in 1207 CE, some nine years of construction. Built on the foundations of a previous Temple that was dedicated to Ataegina, whom ruled the underworld at that time. (More info can be found on Wikkipedia but the English link wouldn’t work)

The cathedral and a stroll around the town before journeying onwards

A long drive through mountainous scenery to the Basque region to stay at Villa La Perla de Sonabia Oriñón, Spain for 2 Nights

DAY TWENTY EIGHT : TUESDAY 22nd APRIL: A planned rest day but we went out to the Parish Church of Santa Maria del Juncal in Irun, Basque Country, Spain. An amazing church with links to the ‘Lady of the Lake’. The Church gets its name from Juncal, which means reedbed. For it is recorded that a small chapel existed in 1400 CE, on the riverside, with a statue of the Virgin Mary within the reed bed. Outside pictures of the constructed church from 1506 CE, which was completed on 1608 CE. A nice stroll around too, a relaxing day.

Then a stroll around the town, and a nice coffee too, ‘watched’ by a mysterious lady….

DAY TWENTY NINE: WEDNESDAY 23rd APRIL: Leave Orinon for a journey through to France to Stay at Fougeres in France for two nights

DAY THIRTY: THURSDAY 24th APRIL: A surprise visit, and very nice drive to Notre-Dame Basilica in Alecon. Normandy. France. This was a very special and poignant visit for me, as there were very important connections here to my Craft energy line, Craft heritage and to those whom went before me. The church is dedicated to Saint Therese. The current renovations are from 1513 CE, though a chapel stood here in 936 CE. Saint Therese was baptized on 4th January 1873, being the 9th Child of Saint Louis and Z Elie Martin, who married in 1859 CE. There are many interesting Craft symbols here and Karl was kept very busy with research for his up and coming book, ‘Timeless’ in 2026.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Notre-Dame_d%27Alen%C3%A7on

The town itself was very charming with some lovely old timbered building and a nice main shopping street. Interestingly for us English, just yards from the church were several shops legally selling that ‘funny green stuff’!

DAY THIRTY ONE: FRIDAY 25th APRIL; Leave Fougeres to catch ferry home a day early!

To summarize this epic adventure:

We visited: 23 churches, 4 cathedrals, 1 abbey, 2 sacred stones, 11 places of interest and went twice through the Euro Tunnel! We drove (or rather Karl did) approx. 5,2oo miles.

We connected to: the Craft energy lines of Cy and Ku, 10 and 2, of the Father and of Balance. To find out more about these ‘energy lines’ and what they mean, you will need to read the books by Karl Neville, the latest one to be published next year is called ‘Timeless’ and will be on Amazon, or even come and join us in respect of our teachings.

“So there you have it dear friends, another amazing adventure comes to a close, many experiences were enjoyed, both physical and metaphysical and much learning and understandings in respect of Craft were acknowledged by myself. As always i grew in Craft understandings and i also grew in my understanding of myself in Craft’

Our Temple Master and renowned tutor of Craft is Mr Karl Neville details below:

My Chap Publications – all Karl’s books and more

You will also find our Quest videos and extra info here too.

MyChapPublications (Karls youtube channel)

Please do get in touch if you are interested and feel that this path is for you and in the meantime we bid you a warm farewell…

Please contact me here for further details ‘moon.willow@ntlworld.com’

‘Keeper of Scrolls’ ‘Grail Guardian’

Updated August 2025

Comment

QUEST 40: ‘HIDDEN SEQUENCE’ SPAIN & PORTUGAL: WEEK ONE

Filed under: The Quests — Leave a comment

July 19, 2025

This was an adventure, a drive, an experience, a journey like no other and i had no idea at the onset of what the gods of fate had in store for me, good or bad. Some words that spring to mind that would describe this personal journey of mine would be profound, deep, sad, ancient, heat, mountains, eagles, pelicans, rooks, vast landscapes, forest fires, old trapped ‘energies’, personal sadness, the watchers, ancient Templar buildings, the aroma of roses, roadside blooms, ancient energies, time distortions, a Templar history, hidden histories, huge road bridges across vast chasms of nature, off the beaten track, up in the clouds, the el Camino Trail, earthly trapped entities…

Reality is never what you think it is and is full of surprises both positive and negative, one has to embrace and accept everything, we live in an interesting, many faceted realm which many are blind to. I discover more and more of these truths on every quest i embark upon and i hope you too dear readers can partake of my journey with me and discover all this for yourselves.

Many Craft connections and aspects to this planet have always been here, yet carefully and purposefully hidden, usually by the various religions of this planet and their false power and false truths. The Knights Templars were always known as the keepers of secrets and i am very proud and humbled to uphold these truths.

DAY ONE: TUESDAY 25th MARCH: Left Cambridge for a one night stop at Dymchurch near Dover, so to get an early morning start on Euro Tunnel the next day. The apartment was lovely, on the sea front of this old fashioned seaside town, right on the very sea front with a sea view no less!

DAY TWO: WEDNESDAY 26th MARCH: An early morning ride onto Euro Tunnel into France, with a very long drive ahead. We drove all the way through France to Le Bourg at Valade, about 600 miles to almost the Spanish border. It was a stunning day and we made excellent time thanks to Karl’s driving skills. We made our way via three long toll roads and i named myself ‘Lady of the Tolls’, for how quickly i now have the hang of it.

We spent the night exhausted yet well, in a converted barn in very rural France that looked straight out of the set of ‘ello ‘ello! (TV series). In the morning before departure we looked right out to lines of vineyards and as we departed we noticed a little Templar Church right there. As fate would have it i forgot my hoodie and had to go back for it, so a walk around the Templar church it had to be!

A taste of rural France with hints of a Templar history

DAY THREE: THURSDAY 27th MARCH: Into Spain! Another 400 plus, mile journey took us right into the heart of Spain to San Martin de Valdetuer, right into the snowy capped mountains.

DAY FOUR: FRIDAY: 28th MARCH: A two night stay, at Casa de Turismo, mainly for a rest and to catch up on sleep, although a beautiful area we were simply there for a stopover and even though fate held out an uninvited hand with some very sad personal news from home, i was so glad i resting….

View from Casa de Turismo

DAY FIVE: SATURDAY 29th MARCH: A not too early start and on the road again, but this time to visit some spiritual Templar sites.

Palace of Gaudi: Astorga. Leon. Spain: Built by the Templars in the 13th Century. The original palace is now converted to a museum with artifacts of particular interest on the path, including a depiction of ‘Boaz’ surrounded by a circle. The Palace is on the el Camino trail (way of Santiago trail) and welcomes tourists and pilgrims alike. Astoria is a lively place with lots of eateries and individual shops where i picked up some lovely spices and oils to take home.

Iglesia de Nueestra. Senora de la O La Carrera de Otero. Leon. Spain: Historical Declaration 28th September 1973. A place where those whom sought the enlightenment of the realm were inducted. It was very quiet there on this very hot day and sadly we could not get inside. It was really in the middle of nowhere with not a single soul to be seen….

DAY SIX: SUNDAY 30th MARCH: After this fairly relaxing day, still contemplating my sad news, we drove to our next place of rest for a two night stay at the beautiful and relaxing El Vallin de Lan. Cerezales del Condadoin Spain, surrounded by beautiful and peaceful countryside.

DAY SEVEN: MONDAY 31st MARCH: We left the above lovely villa and drove through the beautiful Spanish countryside on this lovely sunny day to visit a ‘Trinity’ of very old and original Templar churches.

Iglesia parroquil de Santiago Apostol: A beautiful church that stood out in the landscape, but sadly closed and sadly unused, made of deep red brick like most of the buildings around these parts. It is said that it holds an artifact from 1615 CE, but as it was closed and unused we shall never know.. In the past it was a place of a great battle that occurred in 711 CE, the shortly after in 712 CE there are historical accounts of bright lights that “filled the sky”. Interestingly, as happens of a great many of our visits to Templar sites. we were being observed, being watched.

Considering we were in the middle of nowhere with not a glimpse of civilization in sight, an elderly couple were there before us, the little bent lady hardly being able to walk as her elderly male companion seeming ‘dragged’ her around the site. They walked around the building, smiled at us and then ‘vanished’ completely, into the ‘ether’, as they say. But where had they come from and where did they go? They had no transport and as i said the lady could hardly walk, but gone they most certainly were…

The whole area is very rural, off the beaten track with not a tourist in sight. Up in the slopes of lower the mountains one can see quite big traces of very early and impressive buildings of ancient civilizations, over quiet a large distance.

Parroquia catolica Santa Maria Del Castro: ‘Oldest place of Templars from 1168 CE’. Completed in1809 CE. In 1960 CE, a discovery was made at the church, that led to the formation of a group of locals that would protect the artifact indefinitely.

Parroquia catolica San Esterban: *Past Mosque 1128. Bursting with Templar energy, a place to visit for certain in a very quaint and charming old area.

We visited a ‘Trinity ‘of Templar churches, each with a unique history just waiting to be told…..

That afternoon we arrived for a two night stay at Casa Rural lamadretierra. Pandorado in Spain, high up in the mountains with lovely views.

DAY EIGHT: TUESDAY 1st APRIL: Leave Casa Rural lamadretierra in Spain on a journey into Portugal.

Castelo de Chaves. Praca de Camoes. Perugal: *Templars in residence from 1128 CE. Being built in 78 BCE makes this castle or rather tower remains an absolute must. Inside there is a small museum of militaria, then a climb to the top for the amazing view. There is reference or maybe a sighting here of the watchers, also known as the Igigi, with the pillars of Joachim and Boaz, for communication, a message, if needed. Also the outside walls have some interesting symbols on them too.

Stay at Casa cas Oliveras, Braga, Portugal for 3 nights.

DAY NINE: WEDNESDAY 2nd APRIL: Braga Catherdral. Se de Braga. Portugal: * in 409 CE were invading Germanic Tribes known as the ‘Barbarian Invasions’. Original construction in the 11th Century, renovations completed in the 13th Century, in the oldest city in Portugal, it stands so to mark this place in time. It was certainly very big and interesting with some very old and fascinating stone carvings and some beautiful paintings.

Bragga was lovely lively and historic, and we had a very nice lunch there too.

Roman Thermae of Maximinus: Braga. Portugal: Roman bath ruins covering quite a large area in the city. Excavated remains of a large Roman public bath complex active during the 1st – 3rd centuries BCE, whose construction was integrated into the urban renewal of the civitas of Bracara Augustas, the Roman provincial capital of Gallacia. The excavations are still being carried out here and much more to be found.

See more info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Thermae_of_Maximinus

DAY NINE: WEDNESDAY 2nd APRIL (cont) Santuario de Nossa Senhora Catholic Church. Soutelo. (Sanctuary of our lady of Relief) Portugal: Founded in 1798 CE, this sanctuary, a Neo Gothic church, with a Latin cross plan. It is said that a ‘dormant portal’ lies within this said church. A Marian sanctuary located in the parish of Soutelo, district of Braga.