The Stan rune
The Stan rune appears in the Anglo Saxon rune rows. It means Stone. I've often wondered about this rune and the relation it has with the suffix -stan in many Middle Eastern countries. I've often made references to the connection in previous articles.
To understand the meaning of the English rune 'Stan' we need to look at our ancient history. The word Stan has its roots in the Aryan-Iranian word *Sta which meant to 'stay' and to 'stand'.
The same PIE root gives us 'stone' or 'stein' in German. Here we have the idea of a double meaning - as a 'standing stone' contains the root word twice. Many standing stones were raised as field markers or as border stones - stones which marked out land boundaries. The suffix -stan used in many Middle Eastern country names use the suffix for the same reason. Whilst most of these countries are Muslim, the word stems from the old Aryan Persian.
This rune can then be used in a form of pre-ritual magic - to help prepare ourselves for ritual work. When we perform our rites we STAND facing north. We position our body in the STANCE of the rune, or in the Heil salute. We become rooting the the spot where we STAY. We are STEADFAST in our belief. This rune can also be used to further the connection we have with land - and to protect the land from outsiders - a form of spiritual boundary - to define what is ours.