6 Degrees of Separation

I remember when i first encountered the theory that you were only 6 people away from being able to meet anyone on the planet,I thought it might have been less.

In this documentary mathamaticians step into the fray to try to establish equations of inter-connectivity in complex systems like cells, animals, humans and the internet.

The key is 'Hubs' where dense amounts of connectivity occur in clusters ,with outlieing individuals in the system with less connectivity of their own 'plugging' in.

While this is a subtle form of Reductionism by science to explain the organic nature of life, it is a step in the right direction, a step to the Buddhist notion of 'Interconnectivity' It forces scientists to overlap and become interdisciplinary and look for patterns in the data, and thats where systems thinking combined with computer models can show us things that ordinarily lie hidden.

They run a neat experiment in the doco selecting 6 people from around the world at random in different countries who are given a parcel to send to someone they don't know in Boston USA. They have to find a way to send it in 6 people of less who can deliver the package.

What started off as an urban myth about a Hollywood actor, a theatre play and then a feature film has become a new study of interconnectivity in human beings.It has the obvious implication for medicine in the way disease is spread around the planet, for technology in the way viruses impact the internet and perhaps more culturally important how we are all connected here on earth. 

The Patience of Stones

The Patience of Stones from Agent M on Vimeo.

This is the rugged beach that i occasionally take a 'skinny dip' in. Its a piece of the Danish coast that is very beautiful, and even now, almost into summer still devoid of people. 

This is a short film i made of the place, which has been a peaceful creative haven for me over the years.

The stones here are in deep meditation.If you want to learn patience - just sit on a stone.  

Early morning WAKE UP!

Another way to begin your day in a positive way, is a short sharp 'fcuk dats cold !!!' dip in the ocean. I say a dip because its too cold for me to swim here in Denmark in May. I am amazed that many people here take a dip all year round. The Danes are true Vikings.

You do feel fantastic when you come out because the your body is alive with endorphins and neurotransmitters that have exploded into your skin.

It changes your mood in an instant and you feel just GREAT. With the water at this kind of (too me freezing) temperature you can't think too much about going in, you gotta take your clothes off and then as Nike says 'Just Do It!'

Breathflex

BREATHflex

For as long as i can remember i have been starting my day with some form of energy exercise. Ever since my father taught me some simple 'Prana' breathing exercises he had learnt in the army, while stationed in India i have been experimenting with Tai Chi, Qi Gong and other forms of breath work.

Here is a series of 6 i have been working with for sometime now, very simple, very gentle, they are not really exercises more breathing moves.They will wake you up to the new day and refresh your mind body & spirit in an energising way.

You see in this video i begin standing feet together.First take 3 full yogic breaths - always breathing in and out through the nose.Breath slowly. Begin inflating the lower 'abdominal' part of the lungs first, then the mid section finally the top of the lungs. At the top of the breath pull the navel in towards the spine , hold for a count of 3 then release the breath in the reverse order top middle & lower lungs. 

Then begin the Breathflex moves.

1. Touch toes breathing out, stand up breath in

2.Arms out by your sides up on your toes on the in breath, breathe out returning to standing position

3.Feet apart swim into the sky, inhale going up exhale out as you bend your knees

4. Reverse this move, as you come down hold momentarily fully exhaled in the 'Horse Position'

5.Bending between your legs breathing in touch the ground, exhale as you learn back, flex the abdominals as you do.

6.Side to side swish of the arms breathing out as you rotate to the side going up on your toes.

On completion: Exhale fully and with palms together thank the sun and the air you are breathing.

Key points with this is to keep your self fully loose as you move and then slightly flex your muscles at the 'final moment' of the exhalation. This full body flex at the end of the out breath brings an energising dynamic tension to the whole body, then you glide through the movement on the inhaling/ exhaling breath.

Its a gentle routine , very adagio, musically think Baroque.The music is from Boroque Garden by Hemisync.

Go outside at sunrise & perform Breathflex early in the morning.Its calm and peaceful then and the air is pure. I recommend 3 rounds of each move to begin with, then work up to 6.

As a trial do this routine every morning for 30 days. Its a great start to a new day in a strange place, if you are on the move and traveling a lot. 

Feel the 'wake up' difference & enjoy your morning.