The Book of Shadows - Mystical book of witchcraft (also known as the "grimoire") discovered by three sisters on the occult drama CHARMED/WB/1998+. When Prudence (Shannon Doherty), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) and Piper (Holly Marie Combs) inherit a San Francisco Victorian home they move in and discover the house is enchanted. One night their Ouija board directs them to the attic. Hidden, in a steamer trunk they find a large leather bound book called The Book of Shadows. The book was filled with mystical incantations used by witches to ward off evil. On the first page there was a woodcarving of three women in a circle casting spells and an elaborately scrolled incantation which says: "Hear now the words of the witches. The secrets we hid in the night. The oldest of spells are invoked here. The great gift of magic is sought." According to another incantation The Book of Shadows was designed to bestow the sisters with witchcraft powers. It read: [spoken by Phoebe]

"Hear now the words of the witches. The secrets we hid in the night. The oldest of gods are invoked here. The great work of magic is sought. In this night and in this hour I call upon the ancient power. Bring your powers to we sisters three. We want the power. Give us the power"

The ceremony was best performed at midnight on a full moon. The sisters soon discovered they had received special powers. Phoebe could see the future; Piper could stop time and Prudence could move objects with her mind. As their experience with the Book of Shadows , increased, so did the sisters magical powers.

Phoebe, Piper and Prue, the original "Charmed Ones" who formed the "Power of Three."	When Prue died, a half-sister named Paige (Rose McGowan) takes Prue's place.

The Halliwell sister's San Francisco home (actually in Los Angeles, CA)	Kit the family cat. Around her neck dangles the Triquettra, the symbol of the Charmed Ones	Triquetra symbol: It appears on the front cover of the Book of Shadows.

Centuries ago, one of the Halliwell's ancestors was a witch named Melinda Warren. Before Melinda was burned at the stake, she vowed that each generation of Warren witches would become stronger and stronger, culminating in the arrival of three sisters. These sisters would be the most powerful witches the world would ever know. They would be protectors of the innocent and known as the "charmed ones." The Halliwell sisters were the prophesied witches and so they used their powers and the incantations in The Book of Shadows to battle demons and warlocks ("these are evil demons who hunt and kill witches...former witches who failed to follow the 'Wiccan Rede'").  Note: The Wiccan Rede is the moral code for all witches that states "An ye harm none, do what ye will." In essence, as long a witch does not harm anyone with their potions and spells, they are free to do as they like.  See also - Curses & Spells