The Elders

The Elders, also known as The Council of Elders, The Founders or The Powers That Be, are a council of extremely powerful Whitelighters who advise magical beings and also command the majority of Whitelighters themselves. Their purpose is to preserve the "greater good", which they do by commanding Whitelighters to watch over and protect witches and future Whitelighters. Elders mainly keep track of witches, Whitelighters, and even humans from the Heavens. They communicate with witches through Whitelighters, giving them messages and warning them of impending great threats. They also send Whitelighters after humans who are "Whitelighters to be" and clip their wings whenever serious rules are broken.

When witches need advice about demons, or anything else that they know nothing about they can ask the Elders by sending their Whitelighters to them as Leo did many times for the sisters. Even to discuss a battle plan, witches can send their Whitelighters.

Very few Elders ever come to Earth. Only in rare cases do they orb down. The Elder who spent the most time on earth was Leo as he had a family. A few others such as Gideon, Sandra and Odin orbed down the earth a few times (mostly on the Golden Gate Bridge) to talk directly to the Charmed Ones or Leo and even once for Zankou. Elders prefer to stay in the background and spend their time in the Heavens to protect themselves from harm (as only the orbing power belonging to Elders and Whitelighters can enter it). This explains why witches are not allowed in the Heavens, although the Charmed Ones once visited it (Piper three times).

History
Approximately 1000 BC, the Elders saw the Titans as a risk to the world and themselves. So they unleashed the powers of the Greek gods onto mortals, who were then able to use those powers to imprison the Titans for millennia and return the gods and their powers back to their resting place after the battle. Since that time, the Elders have been taking care and looking after the world. (Oh My Goddess! Part 1)

The Elders did initially forbid the marriage of Piper Halliwell and Leo Wyatt, which they rescinded, allowing the wedding to occur later in 2001 (season 3). After Leo's efforts to save the Elders and the world, the Elders promoted him to an Elder, however he spent much of his time on Earth, became an Avatar and eventually "fell from grace" which is something no other Elder had ever done.

Referred to as ...
In the episode Secrets and Guys, Phoebe first learns about the Elders. Leo tells her about a "group of elder Whitelighters" known as "the Founders". Prue and Piper learn about them in the episode Love Hurts when they also first found out about Leo being a Whitelighter. They get called "Elders" more frequently starting with the episode "Blinded by the Whitelighter". They are also called "The Powers That Be" in the episode "Once Upon A Time".

Other Information
Despite the fact that many Elders are former Whitelighters (as a result of a form of promotion), many are witches or other magical beings who have become Elders due to their services for Good. An example of this is seen in Witches In Tights, where Kevin, a young witch, becomes an Elder after the death of Ramus (his powers were passed on to the youth). Elders who have been former magical beings retain their original powers and also possess the mental powers of an Elder. Although it was initially believed that the Elders' powers are mental and not physical, this was eventually proven to be wrong: many Elders possess deadly offensive powers such as Lightning bolts. They can also mimic powers such as energy balls, but they would not have any effect as they do not actually possess the ability. Whitelighters can do this too, like Nathalie did in Blinded by the Whitelighter while training with the Charmed Ones.

Despite the fact that they share a common purpose of protecting the innocent and vanquishing evil, the Elders and the Charmed Ones did not have a good relationship. It had to do mainly with the dramatic differences in their natures: The Elders, being superior, high-ranking magical beings with powerful senses of duty, were "sticklers for the rules" and always placed their responsibilities towards the world above all things. The Charmed Ones, being first and foremost human beings despite their incredible witchcraft powers, very naturally hated to be confined by the restrictions and ideals imposed upon them by the Elders, who also seem to have an infuriating tendency to almost constantly interfere in their private and family lives for fear that they would be distracted from their Wiccan duties. It was often up to Leo to mediate between the sisters and the Elders, and even then whatever truces he could patch up between them were always shaky. Fortunately, in face of great crisis, both parties have been shown to be able to put aside their differences and work together effectively, showing that both do value the other in the eternal fight against evil.

Appendices

 * (Book of Shadows text:)

The Elders

 * As high-ranking force of Good, the Elders are the
 * highest level of guardian angels, they are also the
 * newer agents for Good, the Elders also guide and
 * direct Whitelighters and other charges. In times of
 * great need, Elders can aid with their vast wisdom.

Known Powers and Abilities
Elders can protect themselves from evil by a powerful energy field. When Zankou tried to touch Sandra he was shocked by electricity (Ordinary Witches). Other powers exhibited by Elders include, but are not limited to: • 3

Portrayed By

 * Elizabeth Dennehy as Sandra
 * John De Lancie as Odin
 * Bruce Gray as Kheel
 * James Avery as Zola
 * Ian Abercrombie as Aramis
 * Ken Page as Adair
 * Eyal Podell as Roland
 * John Cothran, Jr. as Cecil
 * Gerry Becker as Ramus
 * Andrew James Allen as Kevin
 * Gildart Jackson as Gideon
 * Nigel Gibbs as Jonnah
 * John Richard Todd as the Unidentified Male Elder
 * Baadja-Lyne Odums as the Unidentified Female Elder