It's 8:30 p.m. and the paddleboards glide into the water in Brentwood Bay just in time for a sunset.
It's the second full moon in a row where it's in Capricorn, a rare occurrence. The group is here to do a Moon Ceremony & Paddle with Mer Tales Ocean Journeys, started by marine biologist Gina Lemieux in conjunction with South Island SUP. "During the Full Moon ceremony, release what needs to be released and make space for what you want to welcome into your life," the description reads on the website.
Lemieux started Mertales in 2021 and came up with the ceremony idea when she was doing five rhythms dance and conscious dance embodiment, which often involved ceremonies. "I just really liked the idea of a container around an intention," said Lemieux. "I thought, let's try a moon ceremony on the water and keep it really simple and connect with water.
" The idea is that just before the moon comes up, the group does a small and simple meditation on the water, where everyone sets an intention, releases something that's holding them back and then can share with the group if they feel emboldened to do so. And it's not the only paddle experience Lemieux does. Called to create the company due to her passions for both paddle boarding and marine biology, which her professional career is in, she also offers journeys like the Marine Ecological Tour and the Kelp Float.
Though participant Annette Ruitenbeek has been paddle boarding for a year and a half with Lemieux, she felt called to try the M.