Simple Tips to Improve the Atmosphere of Your Home Using the Natural Elements of Northern Ontario

​Living in Northern Ontario creates a incredible and unique opportunity to connect deeply with nature. We're blessed to be surrounded by rugged landscapes, forests, lakes and rivers of all sizes. The energy of the environment here is powerful. For homeowners in Timmins and northern Ontario, incorporating Feng Shui principles into your home’s design can help balance the energy in your home with the natural energy outside, creating a living space that supports the well-being, prosperity and success of your entire family.

Hersey Lake, Timmins, Ontario

​Understanding the Energy of Northern Ontario

The geography, the location, climate changes, and the abundance of lakes and forests in northern Ontario have big impacts on the energy flow around our homes. You may not realize it on a day to day basis but it’s there and you can create an environment that can both energize and ground you with a few simple adjustments inside and outside your home.

In Feng Shui, the natural world around us influences the energy—called "chi"—that enters our homes. Living in northern Ontario, means that we already have access to all of the natural elements as opposed to being a large city where it might be harder to connect with nature. Let’s take a quick look at the elements as they apply to northern Ontario. 

Forests: The wood element is really strong in Northern Ontario. The element symbolizes growth, vitality, and flexibility, and homes that are built in or near forests often feel peaceful and connected to nature. However, too much wood energy can create stagnation if not balanced properly. If you have a home that is surrounded by trees, and you’re feeling a bit disconnected from the rest of the world or have low energy, balance out that energy by including some metal elements outside of your home. A great item to have is a metal wind chime hanging outside your front door. The sound of the wind chime attracts the “chi” to your home and cuts through the denseness of the trees. 

Lakes and Waterways: Water is a powerful symbol of abundance, wealth, and movement in Feng Shui. We certainly have plenty of water in the area so take advantage of that flow. The lakes and rivers in the area represent flow and abundance, but they need to also be properly integrated into a home’s design to avoid overwhelming emotions or feelings of instability. This is where the wood element comes in handy. If your home sits on a property that overlooks a lake or a river, try and plant trees between your home and the water - not so many that you block the view of the water, but enough to let the trees soak up the energy from the water. 

Feng Shui Tips for Northern Ontario Homes

​To make the most of Northern Ontario’s natural energy, here are a few Feng Shui tips that are especially relevant to homes in this part of Canada. These Feng Shui principles can help you create a home that feels aligned with the powerful energy of Northern Ontario’s natural resources.

1. Balance the Wood Element
With so many home in Timmins surrounded by trees, the wood element is abundant throughout the area. While this promotes growth and vitality, too much wood can lead to feelings of stagnation.

Tip: Incorporate a small amount of the metal element or  some of the fire element to balance out the strong wood energy. Adding metallic finishes, metal artwork, or even furniture with metal accents can help energetically cut the wood energy around your home. A candle, a decorative item in the colour red or something with a pointy shape can be used to bring in the fire energy, which will energetically burn away some of the wood element (just don't use too much of it!).

Example: Place a metal sculpture or artwork in your living room to provide balance if your home has large wooden features or is surrounded by trees. Or place a metal wind chime outside your front door to invite the “chi” in.

2. Embrace the Power of Water
Water, especially in the form of nearby lakes or rivers, symbolizes flow and abundance. However, too much water can create an imbalance, causing emotional instability or difficulty making decisions.

Tip: Balance the water energy in your home by adding earth elements. Earth grounds and stabilizes, countering the sometimes overwhelming nature of water. Use stone, ceramics, or earth tones in your home’s design to bring in this grounding force.

Example: If your home overlooks a lake, consider using stone tiles or earthy colors in your décor to stabilize the energy. Adding planters with natural stones or ceramics can create harmony between water and earth.

3. Invite in Natural Light and Fresh Air
Light is crucial for uplifting the energy of a home and Northern Ontario is blessed with plenty of natural light during summer months. But the long winters can lead to darker, more enclosed spaces. 

Tip: Maximize natural light in your home wherever possible. Keep windows clean all year long, open the curtains every day, and strategically use mirrors to reflect natural light and enhance the brightness in your space. Fresh air is also vital to keeping the energy flowing, so even in the winter, go ahead and open the windows for a few minutes (provided they’re not frozen shut!).

Example: Position mirrors opposite windows to reflect the natural light that streams in during the day. If you have a beautiful view out the window, the mirror will enhance that energy. In winter, open the windows for a few minutes daily to invite fresh air in and keep the energy flowing throughout the house.

4. Incorporate Natural Elements from Your Surroundings
The landscapes of Northern Ontario provide a wealth of natural elements that can enhance your home’s energy. Incorporating wood, stone, and water features inspired by the environment brings balance to your space.

Tip: Use natural materials that reflect the beauty of Northern Ontario in your home’s décor. Wood from local sources, stones from nearby rivers, and even indoor water features can ground your home in the energy of the region.

Example: Place a small stone fountain in your entryway or in your front yard to represent the flow of water energy, or incorporate a wood mantle or wood flooring made from local timber to enhance the wood element.

​Creating a Connection to Nature Using Feng Shui

​Feng Shui offers an incredible opportunity to harmonize your home with the natural world around you.  Living in northern Ontario, these principles give you the opportunity to work with the unique energy of the region by integrating the natural elements that define this area into your home to create a balanced, peaceful, prosperous living space.