Embodied Intelligence
AI from a Continuum Movement lens
“We’ve been so overtaken by the Industrial Revolution that we now relate to ourselves more as machines than as living, biological beings.” — Emily Conrad
Last week I hosted an online event for the Continuum Movement art collective. Continuum Movement is a somatic practice centered around breath, sound, and movement—one that has deeply inspired my views on AI.
Its founder, Emily Conrad, is one of a kind—someone who shaped a language around embodied intelligence, of what it means to live in a body, to be a water bag on land.
The teachings of Continuum are rooted in the understanding that the water in our bodies—found in our blood, cerebrospinal fluid, lymphatic system, and within our cells—forms a vital link to the natural world. The same water that moves through rivers, oceans, and the atmosphere also flows within us. It nourishes our cells, cushions our joints, and travels between tissues. Water is the medium through which life communicates and regenerates, both within our bodies and in ecosystems. When we return to the fluidity of our own bodies, we reconnect with the natural intelligence that flows through all living systems.
"The fluid system is our primary system... it puts you more in connection to the planet because there's no separation between the biological process of a human being and the process of the planet." - Emily Conrad
In my work in AI, I’m guided by the question: 'Can artificial intelligence help us move toward a regenerative future? If we align AI with natural principles, it could help us build a future where technology supports life and helps ecosystems thrive, instead of disrupting or controlling them. Our own ability to activate the regenerative capacity of our bodies can teach us how to shape a future where AI becomes a partner in restoring balance, not a force of domination.
"Continuum exists because our culture has become so dissociated that it's almost necessary..." - Emily Conrad
Emily Conrad often spoke of the dangers of mechanistic thinking—how it leads to rigidity and disconnection from the body’s natural intelligence. Her teachings remind us that life is an ongoing movement, an unfolding process that cannot be controlled or contained. In the same way, I believe that AI has the potential to evolve beyond its current form, to become something that serves the whole rather than a select few.
Now, this can all sound quite abstract until you explore it through movement, sound, and breath.
In the class I taught, we moved from philosophy into practice, using different breaths and sounds to create resonance within the body.
The Theta breath is a soft Sssssss, a dissolving sound, relaxing the tissues and nervous system. I invited the group to do this breath as a way to embody mycelium—those hidden networks of fungi that communicate beneath the earth, supporting entire ecosystems. Then we added the Oooooo breath, which is deep and resonant, creating internal space. I invited the group to let it evoke the songs of whales, whose vibrations ripple through the oceans.
After we breathed together, participants shared their experiences. One person likened the Theta breath to the way fungi spread infinitely, describing how the sound seemed to move through their body in a slow, spiraling dance. Another felt the O breath expanding through their chest, connecting them to a deep, ancient intelligence. These practices are powerful reminders that intelligence is not confined to our mind—it is present everywhere, always.
I love that in these moments of feeling embodied and connected, people’s fear toward AI and the future of humanity dissolves. Those fears live in our heads. One participant remarked, “I never imagined my heart would be so welcoming to AI. Thank you for lifting that veil of fear and opening us to a whole new possibility of perception.” Another added, “It’s comforting to think of Continuum as providing a warm embrace for the evolution of technology.” These words touch me, as they reflect the very essence of what I hope to convey in my work—that we have the power to shift our relationship with AI, to see it not as a cold, mechanical force, but as something that can be integrated into the web of life; a gracious partner, supporting the regeneration of life on Earth.
I will continue to explore the many aspects of Gracious Intelligence. With more people joining each month, I’d love to know who you are and hear your thoughts or reflections— simply email me or leave a comment below.
Lisanne - https://lisannebuik.com
DIVE DEEPER:
If you would like to dive deeper into Emily’s language around Embodied Intelligence and Fluid Systems, and are down for a vintage throwback, watch this interview with her from sooome time ago.
Her quotes in this essay are also sourced from this interview. She is no longer present on this planet, but I feel that her message is more important than ever. ❤️
Continuum Movement® is a dynamic inquiry into what it is to be a human being, providing a somatic experiential method to consciously explore yourself as an unfolding biological and planetary process. - more on Continuum Movement’s website