The Latin word vagus means literally "wandering" (the words vagrant, vagabond, vague, and divagation come from the same root).
The vagus nerve is responsible for such varied tasks as heart rate, gastrointestinal peristalsis, sweating, and quite a few muscle movements in the mouth, including speech (via the recurrent laryngeal nerve).
-Eljamel, Sam (2011). Problem Based Neurosurgery. p. 66. doi:10.1142/7830. ISBN 978-981-4317-07-8. S2CID 78277439. (via Wikipedia)
The vagus nerve is responsible for such varied tasks as heart rate, gastrointestinal peristalsis, sweating, and quite a few muscle movements in the mouth, including speech (via the recurrent laryngeal nerve).
-Eljamel, Sam (2011). Problem Based Neurosurgery. p. 66. doi:10.1142/7830. ISBN 978-981-4317-07-8. S2CID 78277439. (via Wikipedia)
We do know that the soul nerve is where we experience a felt sense of love, compassion, fear, grief, dread, sadness, loneliness, hope, empathy, anxiety, caring, disgust, despair, and many other things that make us human. When your body has an emotional response, such as when your stomach clenches, your voice catches, your pulse races, your shoulders tighten, your breathing quickens, your body braces for impact, or you have a sense that danger is lurking, that’s your soul nerve at work. When you feel your heart opening or closing down; when you feel anxious in the pit of your stomach; when you sense that something wonderful or terrible is about to happen; when something feels right or wrong in your gut; when your heart sinks; when your spirit soars; or when your stomach turns in nausea—all of these involve your soul nerve.
When your body feels relaxed, open, settled, and in sync with other bodies, that’s your soul nerve functioning. When it feels energized, vibrant, and full of life, that’s also your soul nerve. When it feels tight, constricted, and self-protective, that’s your soul nerve, too. And whenever you have a fight, flee, or freeze response, that involves your soul nerve as well. In fact, one of the main purposes of your soul nerve is to receive fight, flee, or freeze messages from your lizard brain and spread them to the rest of your body. Another purpose is precisely the opposite: to receive and spread the message of it’s okay; you’re safe right now; you can relax.
Resmaa Menakem, My Grandmother's Hands
When your body feels relaxed, open, settled, and in sync with other bodies, that’s your soul nerve functioning. When it feels energized, vibrant, and full of life, that’s also your soul nerve. When it feels tight, constricted, and self-protective, that’s your soul nerve, too. And whenever you have a fight, flee, or freeze response, that involves your soul nerve as well. In fact, one of the main purposes of your soul nerve is to receive fight, flee, or freeze messages from your lizard brain and spread them to the rest of your body. Another purpose is precisely the opposite: to receive and spread the message of it’s okay; you’re safe right now; you can relax.
Resmaa Menakem, My Grandmother's Hands
ובהקדמת שעה״ק מהרח״ו זצ״ל איתא שיש שנפשו עצמה בהזדככה מאוד תתגלה לאדם ותנהיגהו בכל דרכיו עכ״ל הק׳, היינו שיש צדיק שלא זכה יותר מן התגלות נפשו, לא לנבואה ולא לרוה״ק, וגם זאת מדרגה וגם היא תנהיגהו בדרכו אל ד׳.
In the introduction to his work Shaarei Kedusha (Gates of Holiness), Rabbi Chaim Vital writes, “When a person’s nefesh becomes sufficiently purified that it is revealed to them and guides them in all their ways.” That is to say, it is possible to be a tzadik/righteous one who merits revelation exclusively through the level of nefesh—without prophecy or Ruach HaKodesh/divine inspiration. This revelation is sufficient to lead a person on their own path to knowing God.