9555. 'And there shall be six branches going out of its sides' means all the capacities of truth derived from good in their entirety. This is clear from the meaning of 'six' as all in their entirety, dealt with in 3960 (end), 7973, 8148; and from the meaning of 'branches going out of the sides' as truths derived from good. For the branches out of the lampstand have a similar meaning to human arms and hands, because every single thing that exists in the natural order bears resemblance to the human form and for that reason has a spiritual meaning, 9496, 9553. The arms and hands on a person correspond to truths derived from good, and consequently to power, 878, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 6292, 6947, 7188, 7189, 7205, 7518, 7673, 8050, 8153, 8281, 9025, 9133. From all this it is evident that 'six branches going out of the sides' means all the capacities of truth derived from good in their entirety.

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.