The purpose of any altar, says D. J. Conway, is to symbolize what we want to attract into our lives. In A Little Book of Altar Magic, she shows how, without knowing they are doing so, people are constantly building altars around them, and she encourages readers to make altars consciously, using them to create a sacred space in the home. The very act of creating an altar teaches the builder to listen to the subconscious and become receptive to the sacred in life, Conway suggests. She explains the process in simple terms: planning the project, acknowledging the emotions behind the decision, and doing the actual building. The book guides the reader to what items to look for in furnishing an altar, giving information gleaned from historical and modern approaches on the use of colors, the elements, objects, and symbols.