What should I know before my first ritual?

I have studied Diane Vera's site extensively, and will use her outline for the rituals, and etc. Yet, I am a bit nervous about performing my first (devotional) ritual. Is there anything I should know about rituals that may not be listed on her website? I trust that I can get some constructive feedback before starting my self-initiation and make unnecessary mistakes. Thank you

Diane Vera is an outspoken Theistic Satanist.

Hexed: my advice before beginning to practice Ritualism is to understand that what you are really doing is:

1 opening up your psyche and your unconscious mind through the imagery and archetypal symbolism found in your ritual tools, actions and the Words you speak.

2 that you are performing a Rite (ritual) which like a Rite of Passage will change your subjective universe forever along with your perception of the objective universe (physical world)

3 that the Ritual is worthless unless you bring your Willed Intentions from the Psyche into the Physical World.

4 you realize that you are either asking for the Understanding of something or attempting to create a change in the objective universe.

EtuMalku is correct from the psychological perspectives of it.

I'm going to give advice specifically on the ritual itself.
Also from my perspective.

First off, a ritual should be done like a play. In therapy this is called ''psychodrama''. It is good to have the words spoken with passion. The other factor is to have the ritual done as it says it is done, if not improvise and use symbolism in your mind... for example, if the ritual requires a wand and you have no wand, you could use a pen or stick or something... just as long as you understand that it connects with the element of Air - communication, the medium that connects fire and water, etc. If you **** up, I suggest you continue to flow so that, that way you can continue to build that state of being you are doing in the ritual. If it is too much of a **** up, restart it.

I believe the devotional ritual requires blood. By giving blood, you are giving a very personal part of yourself to Lucifer/Satan... this means that although you will be connected to Lucifer/Satan and be guided, if you do not give your blood with a willed intention, then the symbolism and power of Lucifer/Satan will control all aspects of yourself. Be careful in what you do when you give your blood.

I see, so if my Willed Intention is protection and his manifold assistance in the successful completion of my endeavors, will I need to intend protection during the whole ritual itself, or just during the giving of the blood? I assume I will then sign my name in blood on some sort of contract which I have written, correct?