Critical Reception
Pagan author Raymond Buckland said in his 2002 book, "The Witch Book", that the Charmed Book of Shadows gave the show an air of authenticity and showed that the producers of the show seemed to at least know a little of what they were talking about when depicting Wiccan practices. Judika Illes adds that the Charmed Book of Shadows describes the witches of the show much in the same way of the real world Italian Benandanti traditions. She claims the show draws deeply on Wiccan terminology and ritual (such as the witches adding information to their Book of Shadows), but asserts that it is still a fantasy show. In "The Book of Shadows: The Unofficial Charmed Companion", Ngaire E. Genge talks about the Charmed Book of Shadows in relationship to a modern Wiccan Book of Shadows and the ancient grimoires of such notables as Abra-Melen the Mage and King Solomon. The author is more critical of Charmed's use of the book compared to real-world Wiccans but adds, as Buckland did, that it is still a fantasy show. While not specifically mentioning the Charmed Book of Shadows by name, "The Craft: A Witch’s Book of Shadows" by Dorothy Morrison appears highly influenced by the series, featuring the same triquetra symbol on its cover as does the Halliwells' Book of Shadows.
Criticism has also been garnered for Charmed's Book of Shadows. Author Peg Aoli, a noted Wiccan and media critic at "The Witches Voice" has been critical of mixing real world Wiccan rituals items, such as athames and the Book of Shadows, with Charmed’s "Hollywood" witchcraft. Aoli critically slammed the series' representation of witchcraft in an essay in "Totally Charmed: Demons, Whitelighters and the Power of Three". Furthermore, other critics at "The Witches Voice" argue that Charmed's representation of witchcraft, including their Book of Shadows, creates "so many misconceptions" about Wicca in the modern world.
Read more about this topic: Book Of Shadows (Charmed)
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