Many farm implements make effective weapons in the hands of a skilled opponent. Dilettantism is the mark of an amateur. Familiarize yourself with the specifications for sacrificial victims, and ensure that unacceptable substitutes cannot be unexpectedly introduced into the ceremony. Avoid needless embarrassment. Practice the correct pronunciation of your deity's name in the privacy of your own room before chanting it in public.
Flash cards are often helpful.
Before agreeing to impregnation by a supernatural being, investigate the survival rate of the other women who have undergone the procedure. Never invoke anything bigger than your head. Its jingling also tends to warn the hero of your approach. It also makes you resemble Mr. T, and nobody wants to join a religion he belongs to. Citronella candles may not be used in rituals.