Mimi High Octave Venus
Sun 10° Taurus 29' - Moon 22° Sagittarius 54' 
Farina
~ Up Close and Personal 
Star Chart Solar Aspects
Ascendant 17° Sagittarius 39'
Midheaven 5° Libra 54'
Destiny Path: 8
BREAD & ROSES
People say Mimi Farina has made a difference in quality of life
Sun in Taurus, The Winged Bull [earth] Moon in Sagittarius, The Centaur [fire]Following are notes about artists who have contributed their time and talent to Bread & Roses. Some information is based on internet resources. If you're aware of any changes to be made, or wish to suggest any star chart be included, please email me
Most of the charts included here have dominant Taurus and/or Sagittarius, in keeping with Mimi... the same and similar active Taurus - Sagittarius aspects, among multiple artists, combine well with the Farina vision of community service. One point seems consistent - the make-up and temperament of these star charts balances the magnetic (Taurus/Scorpio) and the electric (Gemini/Sagittarius) combinations.
For those new to astrology, each of the twelve signs is given thirty degrees. Those 30 degrees are further divided into three segments, of ten degrees each, that are called decans. For the most part, they are useful for interpretative use and mathematical notation.
Odetta's melodic Taurus Moon, over Mimi's Sun, blends competitive and power visions. Mimi's Bread & Roses Foundation gives Odetta an opportunity to express the soul-nurturing, quintessential spiritual-rose-essence for those sorely in need of support and compassion. Venus, the social planet and ruler of Taurus, symbolizes the law of magnetic attraction, a bond that holds the physical universe together. As Odetta says, "We need as much putty, spit or glue as possible to bring us together. Only you can give of yourself. Oh, to help better the world through what we do."
Richie Havens' Jupiter and Saturn (business planets) are in the first decan of Taurus, a mediumistic decanate implying the acquisition of magical powers through a professional masterpiece. Stage for the great work, co-created by Bread & Roses, allowed the audience to watch Havens' "unorthodox open tuning that enables him to play a variety of chord patterns beyond the reach of standard tuning." His unusual skill is better appreciated in a live performance. Bread & Roses writes, "He brings a quiet dignity and humanitarian sensibility to his performances that touches the deepest spiritual and emotional needs of his audience."
Both Hoyt Axton and Kris Kristofferson have Venus in Taurus, for confident and dependable creative motivation. This is thought to be Orion's huge arm with a club, wielded so that obstacles crumble. Since Venus coordinates activity regarding The Bull, champions are valued as friends and allies ~ this kind of personal standard reinforces Farina's sense of equilibrium and refreshes the pool of resources that abound in Marin, California.
Kristofferson's Jupiter in second house generally increases his chance for success through government, responsible business affairs, luxury [entertainment] products, and tends to gain through law, philosophic pursuits, science, education, literature and travel. Money acquired for Bread and Roses through second house events has a kind of therapeutic effect. Acquisitions are offset by reflex action - Scorpio directly across the chart from Jupiter [involves surrender and ‘letting go’ of past karma patterns.]
Additionally, Kristofferson's Sun is deposited in 1° Cancer 14', with a Moon at 17° Leo 00' conjunct his 13° Leo 25' Midheaven, and his Jupiter in Sagittarius influences the natural home of Taurus. Mimi Farina's dominant signs are Sagittarius = 23.8%, Aries = 18.9 %, Libra = 15%, so interactive chemistry on a stage devoted to world service is positive and intensely wonderful. Kristofferson's Sun relates well to the "caring professions" that influence subconscious mood changes, intuitiveness, and Luna's sign has the greatest number of fixed stars within its arc. Many geniuses have been born when their Sun or Ascendant is in this part of the zodiac with its multiple fixed stars prominent.
Venus in Taurus seeks greater self-realization through profession and social commitment from a community viewpoint. Sagittarius in the second house [Kristofferson] emphasizes the phase of worldly attainment by honors, matter material and animation that pertains to national wealth, resurgence, and security, the strength found within one's [partner as a symbol of the/your] objective reality.
I would be remiss if I fail to mention that Bonnie Raitt, Odetta and Kristofferson have precise conjunctions with the constellation of the Peacock @ 23 Capricorn, an extremely significant herald of success ~ Bruce Springsteen and many more share the benefits of this prosperous augury related to the 'Philosopher's Stone,' as only a step from achieving the alchemist's gold. Bonnie Raitt, born with the 33 Destiny Path [master builder of the first city] has her Midheaven conjunct the Peacock, a early Piscean Era symbol of wisdom, the higher mind, and developed soul power. Taurus in her first house indicates love of beauty, harmony in the environment, music, singing, drama, and opera – to name a few personal preferences. Venus in the ascendant shows love of justice, a refined nature, and generous spirit. With the Peacock in the Midheaven, the star chart is structured to suggest one able to pass initiation and tests that may have been left 'incomplete' in a previous life.Early sacred writings also use a symbol of the rainbow or double rainbow, and a unicorn, universal images of uncompromised covenants.
Bob Dylan, forever young and challenging the music industry to dream up new awards to give him, is a fond supporter of Bread & Roses. He appeared 'incognito' at the 25th Anniversary, to the delight of Mimi and all the guests. Dylan is known for his quick-witted communication style that is so typical of The Twins. His gifts are required by the scribe; he has the silver tongue of a nimble messenger, and ‘people skills’ of a versatile manager. Gemini natives are like the troubadours of old. They love to travel and collect folklore from every quarter, then reduce themes to small word units so they can be reforged into song lyrics. This is partly why Dylan the poet has such a far-reaching influence – everyone can relate to the songs he sings.
Paul Simon's Sun in Libra is a golden addition to a Farina line up that operates above the black and grey latitudes. Libra prompts Simon to mediate, negotiate, or try to unite those who are quarreling. Many Librans are prominent in the arts, diplomatic professions, and public relations. They are intelligent, loyal, and display a sympathetic attitude to those less fortunate. Librans live a high standard for the quality life they desire, with harmonious atmospheric conditions. They usually respond best to positive reinforcement rather than negative stimuli. Simon’s Gemini Midheaven helps to project an image of the great communicator, like Dylan, and with Venus in Sagittarius conjunct Nadir in his radix star chart, the message is sent to the whole Monad like an arrow in flight to the bull’s eye. His Moon [Moonchild, her sign] tends to favour the line of least resistance, yet receives the empathic layering of a Bread & Roses audience without alteration.
Paul Simon has a changeable and aesthetic Libra quality (air sign ruled by Venus) anchored by Saturn and Uranus conjunct in the last decan of Taurus (earth sign ruled by Venus), that of the charioteer [international figure]. With one hand he guides the chariot of his soul and with the other, protects and ministers to the weak and needy. Simon's appearance at the Tribute to Heroes, following 9-11, aptly serves as the symbolic role model. New York has always been noted for outstanding citizen participation in the department of life dedicated to city services. [Chuck Mangione, honored by New York Governor Mario Cuomo, as a role model of an excellent community worker at the neighborhood level, is focused on the basic activity of a responsible citizen. Mario Cuomo has his Sun in Gemini with a Taurus Midheaven, and Mars in Taurus at the Midheaven – steady as a rock.] Mangione was awarded for his for humanitarian service and inner city efforts; he delivers positive messages and assistance to those who are on the look out for a way to better their lot in life. His Jupiter/Saturn in the first decan of Taurus, and the powerful aspects of the final decanate, further illustrate the capacity for selflessness associated with this gentle and domestic sign.
Likewise, Sting's vigorous participation in Amnesty International benefits [and the September 18th telethon] represents an exteriorization of his consistent Libra Sun, Saturn and futuristic Neptune ~ common sense support to benefit the universal good.
Tribute for a beloved singer
Musicians, friends remember Farina
By Leah Garchik {Chronicle Collumnist}
"After yesterday's memorial service for Mimi Farina at Grace Cathedral, when the crowd of 2,000 had filed outside and gathered in the sunshine of the courtyard to share their personal memories, men stood around swapping stories of how they'd fallen in love with her.The year was 1964 or 1965, and novelist Tom Sanchez was sitting at the Big Sur hot springs, when "suddenly appeared this extraordinary apparition, a luminnous creature." She reached down and lifted up a "small black cat, and picked it up to her face. There was all of this black hair flowing down around her and the cat, and I thought, 'Oh, I've met the woman of my dreams.'" And then Richard Farina (her husband at the time) appeared "and he said, 'Come on, baby, let's go.'"
Sanchez still sounded wistful. "I'm sure everybody has a story. You could put a book together: the first time I fell in love with Mimi Farina."
It was apparent from the service that affection and respect for Farina, who died July 18 at age 56, came in many forms. She was a well-known public person committed to a cause. Bread & Roses, the nonprofit foundation she founded in 1974, brings live entertainment to isolated audiences. The ceremony was in part a formal tribute from Farina's colleagues, who continue that work, and fellow musicians and entertainers, who had participated over the years. Kris Kristofferson was there, as well as Marsha and Robin Williams, Don Novello, Paul Kantner and rock photographer Jim Marshall.
More painfully, the service reflected the piercing sense of loss for those closest, who had surrounded and supported her during the years of her illness. Her sister Joan Baez recalled the wit of dying Farina. "You know," she told Joan, "I think you're really much more involved in this than I am." Baez also spoke fondly of their sister Pauline, who calls herself "the other one," and acknowledged the knotted relationship between the two singing sisters.
Farina's partner of four years, Paul Liberatore, described her "achingly gorgeous singing voice" and said, "She could transform the simple act of walking into a room into a moment of exquisite beauty." And a friend, state Sen. John Burton, described conversations in which Farina (sibling of a famous older sister) and he (whose famous older brother was Rep. Phillip Burton) shared notes about being the little kid.
Farina believed that to reach people, "you don't have to preach or say anything," said Lana Severn, former executive director of Bread & Roses. "You just have to be there and make music." So it was fitting that the plaintive sounds of the singers' voices soaring through the vaults of the cathedral's ceiling seemed the holiest presence at the ceremony. Judy Collins, Maria Muldaur, Holly Near, Boz Scaggs and Jackson Browne performed, the dramatic echoes eerily suggesting that Farina's spirit was near.
After Farina's death, she was dressed in the silvery gown she had worn to the 25th anniversary of Bread & Roses, as she had planned, and her body was placed in a casket decorated with roses painted on it by her sister Joan.
But she still seemed present at the service, which started when the cathedral was filled with the sound of her voice singing, "Quiet Joys of Brotherhood," and concluded with peals of her laughter, recorded a few weeks before her death."
"You'll have to let her go some day," Browne had sung, in his own composition. "Don't you want to see the angels appear?"
Taken from The San Francisco Chronicle article on Wednesday, August 8, 2001
Email Leah Garchik at: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com
"Whenever Bread & Roses gives a show, a community of caring is created. Bread & Roses is our legacy to future generations. Together, let's celebrate that and all of us who choose to help our fellow human beings. Thank you for helping set the stage for human kindness."
~ Mimi Farina, Founding Director Bread & Roses ~
25th Anniversary
"They all came out. Eight-year old patriarch Pete Seager and the beatific folk queen Joan Baez were there. So were rock stars Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt, the sedate Boz Scaggs, and the rough-hewn Kris Kristofferson. Comedians Robin Williams, Lily Tomlin and Father Guido Sarducci leavened the earnest atmosphere.
Mimi Farina put out the call to her peers and colleagues in acoustic music to join her 25th anniversary celebration for Bread & Roses, the Marin County based organization that brings light and music into prisons, hospitals and nursing homes. They came..." - Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle
UK Magazine fRoots 21st Anniversary Edition Review of
‘Pack Up Your Sorrows: The Best Of The Vangaurd Years’ Vanguard VCD 79538-2
By Ian AndersonLike excellent sleeve-note writer Ed Ward, I too was entranced by Dick and Mimi Farina when an impressionable teenager back in the mid 1960s. Dylan towered over everything then, most of his New York/New England songwriter contemporaries seeming insignificant by comparison, and every album a revelation. But in among them snuck this Vanguard LP (Fontana here) called Celebration For A Grey Day, which was disarmingly different. The Farinas centered their sound on hard-strummed Appalachian dulcimers, autoharps and acoustic guitars wrapped up in proto-folk/rock, featuring attractive harmonies, beat lyrics, and the inestimable guitar of Bruce Langhorne.
They had a bit of left bank mystery about them, something rather more intellectual that hinted at late-night discussions on life, the universe and everything wreathed in clouds of suspect smoke – they sounded groovily sophisticated and like they probably wore berets. As well as fine originals like the title track, they also re-wrote traditional songs in a way that got hooks in, notably The Falcon which was an anti-war spin on The Cuckoo. Oh, and as Ed Ward noticed too, Mimi (Joan Baez’s sister, but even that we couldn’t hold against her) was a bit beautiful. Hell, that mattered to teenagers…
It was rather shocking to hear that Dick Farina – first encountered on a (very re-issuable) recording with Eric Von Schmidt, done down in Dobell’s basement, singing the likes of Xmas Island – had been killed in a motor bike crash before we’d even had a chance to read his remarkable novel, ‘Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me.’ That put an instant halt to a real "what if" career path: the Buddy Holly of folk.Much water under many bridges: how d these recordings culled from Grey Day, it’s follow-up Reflections In A Crystal Wind and a couple of other sources stand up in the high-tech 21st century? Very well indeed is the answer. They still sound original, timeless rather than dated, the funkiest dulcimer playing you ever heard, and streets ahead of what the large majority of today’s self-obsessed singer/songwriters are churning out daily. Object lesson, history lesson, and downright pleasurable and inspiring music all in one package. And Mimi…sigh…
Mimi Farina and Elizabeth Cotton
Bread & Roses Official Website
Mimi Farina and many other heartwarmers
~ Heart Warmers Jupiter around the Zodiac (pg1); Tips from Bread & Roses Handbook
Insights from Mimi Farina and Bonnie Raitt (pg2)Robert Altman photo of 'The Committee' reunion for Bread & Roses
Order info about 1977 Bread and Roses Festival, Berkeley CA from Fantasy Records
