I Kept the Bathroom Door Closed for a Month and My Bank Account Stopped Dying
A skeptical guy tries closing the bathroom door and putting the toilet lid down for a month—and notices his money stress easing and his focus improving.
Location
Portland, OR, United States
Property Type
Apartment
Room
Bathroom
Direction
Southeast
The Problem
I'm not superstitious. But I was broke. Like, checking-my-balance-before-buying-coffee broke. My apartment was small—one bathroom right off the living room. I worked from home, so I saw that toilet every single day. The door was usually open. Lid up. It just felt... normal. But I also felt stuck. Bills piled up. Projects stalled. I'd start something, then lose steam. It was like my energy (and money) just vanished.
What They Tried
A friend—half joking—said, 'Dude, just close the bathroom door. Put the lid down. See what happens.' I laughed. But I was desperate. So I did it. Every time I left the bathroom, I closed the door. Lid down. That's it. No crystals, no rearranging furniture. Just: door closed, lid down. For 30 days.
What Happened
Honestly? Things got calmer. Not overnight. But after a couple weeks, I noticed I wasn't checking my bank app in a panic as often. I finished a project I'd been dodging. I even negotiated a small raise. Coincidence? Maybe. But the apartment felt less... leaky. Like my attention wasn't being flushed away every time I glanced at that open toilet. I'm keeping the door closed. And the lid down. It costs nothing.
Spatial Orientation
| Bagua Sector | 巽 ☴ · Xun |
|---|---|
| Direction | Southeast |
| Element | wood |
What works best here
Xun (4) · Wood. Southeast loves moderate height with an airy, open feel.
Place: tall leafy plants, natural fiber rugs, light wood tones, cream and soft green.
Recommended crystal
Citrine or Green Jade — placed on a wooden side table in the southeast corner
Perfect for a creative workspace or journaling spot; natural light is your friend here
Source Analysis
1. The Original Principle
Original Text
Las expresiones: «Es como si lo hubiera echado al retrete (mi dinero, tiempo, etc.) y tirado de la cadena», o «Todo (el proyecto, matrimonio, etc.) acabó en la alcantarilla» hay que tomarlas muy en serio cuando se practica el Feng Shui en un intento de realzar el bagua. Las zonas situadas en los retretes y cuartos de baño pueden constituir una amenaza para el chi nutriente que fluye en un edificio.
English Translation
The expressions 'like throwing it down the toilet' or 'it all went down the drain' are meant literally in this system. Bathrooms—especially the toilet area—can threaten the nourishing flow of a building. Zones containing toilets may drain wealth, time, or relationships, as if flushed away.
2. About the Source
Feng shui para Occidente by Terah Kathryn Collins · United States · 1995
Feng Shui for the West is a practical guide that adapts classical Chinese spatial principles for modern Western homes and lifestyles. Written by one of the first American authors to bring Feng Shui to a mainstream English-speaking audience, the book translates ancient Bagua concepts into actionable room-by-room advice using familiar Western design language and contemporary case examples.
3. How This Principle Applies to This Case
The classical principle treats the toilet as a drain—not just for water, but for the subtle currents that support a home's vitality. While the language is symbolic, the practical takeaway is simple: a visible, open toilet in a high-traffic area creates a constant visual cue of waste and disposal. Psychologically, this can subconsciously prime feelings of loss, leading to stress and scattered attention. Closing the door and lid removes that cue, reducing cognitive load and reinforcing a sense of containment. Modern environmental psychology supports this: visual order reduces anxiety. The narrator's experience—feeling less financially anxious and more focused—aligns with this mechanism, even if the cause feels mysterious.
Bring the Purest Energy Into Your Home
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Explore the HIMA ALAÏA collection →Case source
Erin Ruby Design, LLC
24+ years of commercial and residential interior design. Registered architectural interior designer and Feng Shui consultant. Specializes in blueprint Feng Shui assessments for architects and developers.