What Would Gandalf Do? 5 Rituals for High-Energy Work
- Brenda Fowler
- May 1
- 5 min read
Imagine starting your day like Gandalf prepping for battle.
Not like a groggy intern fumbling for coffee while trying to remember why they even opened their laptop.
That image right there? That’s the vibe we’re going for.
If you're a creative entrepreneur, freelancer, or solo business owner, chances are you're juggling a hundred ideas, deadlines, and dreams. You want to grow your work without losing the spark that makes it special. You want to scale without selling your soul (or burning out).
The problem? Most productivity advice either feels too cold ("optimize everything!") or too vague ("just follow your passion").
This post offers a middle path. The Wizard's Way.
With just a little structure, a dash of magic, and five simple daily rituals, you can protect your energy, keep your quality high, and grow with intention.
Let’s dive into your wizard toolkit.
The Wizard's Way: Rituals, Not Routines
Let’s get one thing straight: this is not about rigid routines or boring schedules.
Routines feel like chores. Rituals feel like power moves.
Rituals are small, intentional actions that set the tone, protect your energy, and help you stay focused. They can be simple, weird, playful, or serious—as long as they work for you.
Every great wizard has a set of daily spells that keep them sharp. These are yours.
Today, we're focusing on five types of magic:
Clarity Magic
Focus Magic
Action Magic
Knowledge Magic
Creative Magic
Each one comes with a signature ritual to help you keep your creative energy high while you scale your business like the wizard you are.
The Seer of Morning Intent (Clarity Magic)
The Morning Scrying Ritual
You wake up. Your brain is foggy. The to-do list is already growling. Pause. Breathe. It’s time to scry.
Action (5–10 min):
Grab your journal or notes app.
Write down:
One goal for today
Three small tasks that support it
One thing you’re grateful for
Bonus: light a candle, sip some tea, or play ambient wizard music to set the tone
Why it works: This ritual sets your mental compass. You’re not letting the day run you. You’re choosing where to go.
You also give your brain a small win right away. That tiny burst of progress and gratitude puts you in a proactive, positive state. And yeah, it’s a lot more magical than doom-scrolling first thing in the morning.
The Guardian of the Sacred Hour (Focus Magic)
The Deflectus Interruptus Spell
Even the strongest wizard needs a shield. In your case, it's a force field of focus.
Action (5 min):
Time-block your next focused hour
Turn on Do Not Disturb
Close all extra tabs
Let anyone nearby (even your cat) know you're doing wizard business
Why it works: Distractions are the enemy of deep work. This ritual helps you build a boundary between your focus and the outside world.
You’re not just "avoiding distractions." You’re creating a spell circle—a space where your best ideas can actually show up.
Pro tip: Choose a small focus object or signal. Light a candle, wear your favorite wizard hoodie, or place a funky rock on your desk to signal: "I’m in the zone."
The Summoner of Momentum (Action Magic)
Write a Summoning Scroll
Every wizard has that one dusty spell scroll they keep meaning to read. This ritual is about finally doing something about it.
Action (3 min):
Write down 3 tasks you’ve been avoiding
Pick ONE
Do just the first step today
Why it works: Starting is often the hardest spell to cast.
This ritual tricks your brain into taking action without making it feel like a big deal. You don’t need to slay the dragon today. Just saddle the griffin.
That tiny step? It builds momentum. Momentum builds progress. Progress builds confidence.
Also: Avoidance is a spell of its own—a dark one. You’re breaking that enchantment.
The Rune-Keeper of Growth (Knowledge Magic)
Unlock the Grimoire of Growth
Magic grows stale if you don’t study new spells. This ritual keeps your knowledge fresh and your brain curious.
Action (15–30 min):
Choose one thing to learn today: a podcast, article, video tutorial
Absorb it actively (take light notes or doodle what stands out)
Why it works: You don’t need a full masterclass. Just a small daily dose of something new keeps your creative spellbook up to date.
The key here is intentional learning, not passive scrolling. Even 15 minutes a day adds up fast.
Bonus points if you share one insight from what you learned—teaching others helps the knowledge stick like a good charm.
The Trickster of Joyful Chaos (Creative Magic)
The Ritual of Joyful Chaos
Structure is great, but sometimes your brain needs a recess. This ritual is about making just for the joy of it.
Action (10 min): Set a 10-minute timer. Make something with zero goal or purpose. Some ideas:
Doodle on a sticky note with your non-dominant hand
Grab random objects from your desk and build a tiny shrine
Open a blank doc and write the weirdest story intro you can think of
Make up a fantasy animal and give it TTRPG stats
Dance badly to a fantasy playlist like you're summoning a storm god
The rule: You cannot monetize it. You cannot optimize it. You cannot post it.
This is just for you.
Why it works: It’s a pressure release valve. When you make space for unstructured creativity, you keep the joy alive. You give your brain breathing room. And surprisingly, those chaotic moments often unlock your next great idea.
Reclaiming Your Magic
There you go. Five rituals. Five types of magic.
None of them take a ton of time. None require expensive tools. All they ask is your intention.
And when you string them together throughout your week, something amazing happens:
You stop feeling like you're drowning in tasks and start feeling like you're choosing your path.
You're not just working harder. You're working like a wizard.
You scale without burning out. You create without losing quality. You grow without losing yourself.
That’s real magic.
Choose Your First Ritual
Don’t try to do all five tomorrow. That’s a fast track to feeling overwhelmed.
Instead, choose one. Just one. Add it to your day and see how it feels.
And if you want to share your ritual of choice, I’d love to hear it. Drop it in the comments or send a raven my way.
P.S. Coming soon...
I'm brewing up a simple "Wizard's Spellbook for Smart Work" checklist—a printable version of these rituals you can use to track your magical habits. Want it when it drops? Sign up for my email list to be the first to know!
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