In Polyvagal Theory, bliss can be understood as a distinct, harmonious state in which the ventral vagal system (the branch of the vagus nerve linked to safety and social engagement) and the dorsal vagal system (the branch linked to stillness and deep rest) work together in balance, producing profound well-being and connectedness. This state differs from ventral vagal activation alone, which is associated with safety, social engagement and calm but does not reach the depth of bliss that comes when both systems are balanced.

Ventral Vagal Activation: A Foundation for Well-Being

• Ventral Vagal State: activation of the ventral vagus nerve, part of the parasympathetic nervous system (the system of rest and recovery), tells the body and brain that the environment is safe and allows relaxation and social engagement. This state brings openness, flexibility and well-being: the person can engage with others, solve problems effectively and approach life with compassion and a sense of possibility. It supports positive experiences and feelings, but on its own it may not reach the full depth of bliss.

Blended Ventral and Dorsal Activation: The Path to Bliss

• Blended Ventral and Dorsal Vagal State: in Polyvagal Theory, bliss is described as a blend of ventral and dorsal vagal activation. It combines the ventral vagus nerve's capacity for safety and social connection with the dorsal vagus nerve's capacity to bring deep inner calm and rest.

• Characteristics of Bliss: in this blended state, the person experiences both the outward engagement and safety given by ventral activation and the profound inner peace and stillness typical of dorsal activation. Dorsal activation alone, in response to overwhelming stress, can lead to complete withdrawal or shutdown; here, instead, ventral engagement remains, so that stillness becomes a peaceful grounding and stays connected.

Experiencing Bliss in Social Contexts

• Bliss can also appear in social or performance settings, such as public speaking. The speaker feels deeply connected to the audience (ventral activation) while remaining anchored in inner calm and presence (dorsal activation). This produces a state of flow, in which engagement with others and personal inner peace merge, and which can be described as ecstatic presence, or bliss.

Empowerment through Awareness of Alternatives

• In futures work (the study of possible and preferred futures), the realisation that alternatives exist can be a moment of awakening for many people. When people see that they have choices and can imagine the future they prefer, they often respond emotionally and feel empowered. This awareness can be especially transformative for those who have felt trapped by constraining circumstances: it opens new paths for engagement and change and can lead to well-being and even bliss, as the person regains a sense of agency and possibility.

In summary, Polyvagal Theory offers a framework for understanding bliss as a state in which the safety and connection of ventral vagal activation are enriched by the deep inner peace of dorsal vagal engagement, giving a sense of well-being that goes beyond ordinary calm or safety.

This state is comparable to profound bliss. In our magnetic practice we noticed from the start, before any polyvagal reading of it, that the person tends to lean backwards as this state sets in; the theory now links this posture to dorsal vagal activation.

Learn the method

Mesmeric Polyvagal Therapy is taught in the courses of Dr. Paret's School (ISI-CNV – Université Européenne): live seminars and online lessons, from the first-level Master to advanced training, with specific expertise in polyvagal hypnosis, trembling, completion of the response and ventral vagal stimulation. Request the programme and the next dates: our first contact is always a WhatsApp message, never a call.

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Research notes

A selection of peer-reviewed studies on polyvagal theory and vagal function that offer a scientific reading of the topics discussed in this article.

Kok BE, Fredrickson BL (2010). Upward spirals of the heart: autonomic flexibility, as indexed by vagal tone, reciprocally and prospectively predicts positive emotions and social connectedness. Biological Psychology, 85(3), 432-436. Over nine weeks, adults with higher initial vagal tone increased more rapidly in positive emotions and social connectedness, and these increases in turn predicted higher vagal tone, consistent with a reciprocal 'upward spiral'. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.09.005

Kok BE, Coffey KA, et al. (2013). How positive emotions build physical health: perceived positive social connections account for the upward spiral between positive emotions and vagal tone. Psychological Science, 24(7), 1123-1132. In a randomised field experiment, loving-kindness meditation increased positive emotions, and these gains were followed by increases in vagal tone mediated by perceived social connections; the effect was moderated by baseline vagal tone. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612470827

Schneiderman I, Zilberstein-Kra Y, et al. (2011). Love alters autonomic reactivity to emotions. Emotion, 11(6), 1314-1321. Singles showed a drop in respiratory sinus arrhythmia while viewing negative films, whereas people who had recently fallen in love did not, suggesting that states of bonding may be accompanied by more stable vagal regulation. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024090