laying on of hands
Therapeutic ritual contact
Laying on of hands is a ritual in which a person places their hands on another's body, typically the head, to confer blessing, healing, or spiritual power.
The practice appears across religious traditions—Christian ordination, faith healing, confirmation rites: The bishop performed the laying on of hands.
The gesture symbolizes transmission of divine grace or authority from one person to another.
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
- anointingCeremonial oil application
- healingRestoration of health
- consecrationDedicating to sacred purpose
- impositionUnfair demand on someone
holy orders · prayer · blessing · healing ministry · healing service · Holy Spirit · spiritual gifts · gift of healing · confirmation · touch · benediction · prayer line · altar call · holy · apostolic · sacrament · faith healing · power
- ceremonieswedding ceremony, wedding, weddings, graduation, graduations
- ritualsritual, rite, ceremony, sacrament, blessing
- worshippraying, congregational prayer, adoration, praise God, evening prayer
- MormonismBook of Mormon, Joseph Smith, Latter-day Saints, priesthood, Latter-day Saint
- alternative medicineacupuncture, acupressure, Ayurveda, ayurveda, homeopathy
- Biblical Ritualsburnt offerings, altar offering, drink offering, thank offering, temple worship
laying on of handsmedical treatment
Care for illness
surgery · evidence-based medicine · chemotherapy · clinical treatment · drug therapy
laying on of handsexcommunication
Formal barring from sacraments
cursing · anathema · desecration · shunning · damnation