david starling
Well-known member
Ancient alternatives for Cancer were snapping turtles and various beetles... I don't think a mermaid would work well, here.
I first got the idea from the symbol for Pisces, the two fish swimming in opposite directions, representing the the two Signs of Solstice. So, it's definitely a Tropical view. The lower fish symbolizing Capricorn was already envisioned as a Goatfish, or Sea-goat, and the Merman is a good counterpart for the upper fish. But, there's a feminine feel to the Sign of the upper fish, and a nice balance between masculine and feminine is achieved by the Mermaid specifically. Since the term "man" is commonly used to include women ("mankind", etc.) The term "Merman" might be more appropriate than Mermaid. I definitely think the Sign should be humanized though. I prefer the name "Mer", to emphasize the Water-element, the (Sign-ruler)Moon's effect on the Sea, and to avoid the gender issue.
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