13 of Tishri 5784, 28th of September 2023
My Jewish Learning was at it again! Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman moved me, in this kind of tutorial make-your-own-local-lulav (here she is in the photo), reflecting on how the choice to make my own local, zero-kilometre lulav, an act that reduces the environmental impact in sourcing and transporting its components, imbues the ritual meaning of the traditions of Sukkot with a sense of connection and respect for the Earth. I walked away with the insight needed to prepare the lulav with the resources offered by the land where I live, Modena, central-northeast of Italy. As Shoshana says, geography is destiny, and the place where we live makes a difference in our lives.
I know it is unorthodox with regard to Jewish tradition; on the other hand, for my love for plants, my passion to 'make things with my hands' and the opportunity to be guided by Rabbi Shoshana with empathy and sincere dedication, I have decided to joyfully and respectfully play with tradition with the aim of making special and meaningful the moment when I will say the blessing and shake the lulav form my heart, breathing in the scents of Nature, at home, whenever I feel I may 'connect' with God and Creation.
Lulav, assembly instructions, Leviticus 23:40 “On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days ..". Thus God commands to us the coexistence and relevance of the qualities of each of the four different species - in Hebrew Arba Minim - four very different types that together serve for the harmony and unity of the universe.
Here are the classic features, then the alternative ones for meaning or similarity, of the 4 species, with pics that I took at the fantastic Sukkot 2022 MEIS exhibition in Ferrara 'Under the same sky' and then mine:
The fruit of the hadar tree, of the beautiful tree, is the Etrog, or citron, fragrant, edible and precious, symbolising the heart.
I am told that Rabbis and Jewish authorities travel every year from Israel and the US to the Citrus Coast in Calabria, in southern Italy, to select the most perfect etrogim.News flashI learned from Rabbi Shoshana that the citron is actually native to India and China, not the Mediterranean. It is one of the 3 original citrus species.
The lemon and the citron both belong to the Rutaceae family, the former is a fruit tree and the latter is a shrub. In Modena, citrons are not yet to be found at this season, they will arrive later along with oranges. The lemon being 
the cousin of citron, I gladly chose it as an alternative for my local lulav even though it doesn't grow locally. This is because of my passion for the Chakra system as holistic regulators of our own physical and emotional well-being. Indeed, lemon essential oil is one of the 'helpers' of the third chakra, Manipura. Also known as Center of the Solar Plexus, corresponding to the Pancreas gland, a balanced third chakra promotes digestion and a healthy liver, which will give us energy and courage. In the psyche, the third chakra, whose element is Fire, promotes the manifestation of our own personality, self-assertion without prevarication, wise will, our sense of individuality meant as being a unique and inimitable person, achievement of goals, and memory. I pray every time for these qualities to flourish in me.
. Lulav is the hebrew name of the palm tree, which gives the name to the whole Sukkot kit! 
It has no fragrance, but the date palm has an edible part, it is majestic and bears good fruit just like the image of the righteous. It is a monocot, i.e. one leaf sprouts from the seed instead of two as it is usual in seedlings, and therefore, in this research, could be replaced by the genetically-like bamboo. Lulav is associated with fertility because of its ability to grow in dry soil. When shaken, the stalk makes a pleasant crackling sound. It is likened to the spine. For the Sages, the plant that bears good fruit but does not smell represents people who study a lot but do not devote themselves to good deeds.
On the landing floor in our building, we share a gorgeous potted palm shrub with our neighbours, and there is occasionally a branch still closed, but not in the past few days when I needed it! So I cut off this branch and wrapped the leaves back around the stalk.
. Myrtle, in Hebrew Hadas, from the biblical eitz avot = leafy tree, has very leafy branches with small, seemingly interwoven leaves. 
It is distinguished by its ability to remain fresh for a long time. Myrtle is associated with the eye, perhaps because of the oval shape of the leaf. It is not edible, but it has an exquisite fragrance and it represents the person who, while not studying much, does good deeds. Myrtle essential oil is beneficial to the fifth chakra, related to the Thyroid gland. A harmonious throat chakra promotes beautiful language and easy learning, confidence, sense of beauty and art.
For my Lulav, I have chosen instead Thuja plicatafor various reasons: the shape of the leaves, 
small, almost overlapping, interlaced scales. Once cut, the branch remains fresh for a long time and has an intense aromatic scent. The thuja or Western Red Cedar, is a species native to western North America and Canada. It was introduced to Europe at the time of Francesco I, king of France (1515-1547) for ornamental purposes, and it became widespread in Modena. Its wood, which is almost rot-proof, was used extensively by Native Americans because of its strength, lightness and durability that makes it suitable for various tasks, such as building their houses and dugouts, totems and guitars. From the point of view of aromatherapy, Thuja being in the family 
of Cupressaceae, its essence is good both for the first and for the seventh chakra. These two chakras, at opposites in the human energetical body, have the position of being ideally facing the first one toward the Earth and the seventh one toward the Sky, instead of laying horizontally with openings in front and back, like the other chakras. I really like to celebrate Sukkot, so pivoted on God and Nature, by cherishing the first chakra, whose element is Earth, and with it our genital organs, kidneys, legs and feet, vital energy, a proper relationship with money, joy of life; and the seventh chakra, element Light, which rules peace, unity with the Divine, universal consciousness, oneness with the whole. Can it get anymore Sukkot than this?!
. Willow, Aravah in Hebrew, is very common in the Po Valley where I live, growing near water, it is indeed among the Arba Minim the one that most recalls Sukkot's connection with water. The willow leaves quickly dry out after cutting the branch (in fact they make a delightful rustling sound when I shake the Lulav): the aravah really reflects the human being's dependence on rain. It has neither smell nor taste, and it is associated with the mouth, 
maybe for the shape of the leaf. Since willow represents a person who is not engaged with studying nor good deeds, the reference to the mouth, according to one interpretation, is intended to warn against the transgression of slander and gossip, which are severely frowned-upon by Jewish law.
The graceful beauty of the thin willow branches is matched by an incredible flexibility. Because they grow joined to each other, aravah conveys the importance of solidarity and community.
Ok, the 4 species are picked up and here is my lulav: 
I placed the palm branch at the centre, on my right 3 thuja branches and on my left 2 willow branches. I tied them together using the thinner branches of palm and willow, but you can also leave them loose, like a bouquet! In my left hand I hold my lemon/etrog and pronounce the blessing 'Baruch attah ... vetzivanu al netilat lulav'. Orthodox Jews do not pronounce it when the lulav is not kosher, like this one. In any case, it is good to enjoy a moment of connection between God, myself and the Earth to draw in or release a positive energy. By shaking my own lulav in every direction, forward, right, left, back, up and down, each time returning to the heart, I call for prosperity and trust, for responsibility and protection towards Nature.
Chag Sukkot Sameach!