7547. 'And you would be cut off from the earth' means that thus there would be no communication any longer through things of the Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'being cut off', when said of things of the Church, as being separated, and when they are separated - that is, when there is no longer any communication or contact with heaven through those things of the Church - that person sinks into hell, which is 'being cut off', see above in 7545; and from the meaning of 'the earth' as the Church, dealt with in 662, 1067, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 (end), 2571, 2928, 3355, 4535, 4447, 5577.

6292. 'Place your right hand on his head' means that good should accordingly occupy the first place. This is clear from the meaning of 'placing the right hand on a head' as considering to occupy the first place, as above in 6269, 6287. The placing of his hand by one on the head of another when he was going to bless belonged to a custom received from the ancients. For the head is where a person's actual powers of understanding and will reside, whereas the body is where actions in response and in obedience to them are located. Thus 'placing a hand on the head' was a representative act, denoting that a blessing should be imparted to a person's understanding and will, thus to his real self. That same custom originating in those ancient times remains even to this day and is followed at ordinations as well as in blessings.