diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index afba119..dee1a99 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -129,6 +129,10 @@ Available tools:
 | `rah_create_dimension` | Create a new dimension |
 | `rah_update_dimension` | Update/rename a dimension |
 | `rah_delete_dimension` | Delete a dimension |
+| `rah_list_guides` | List available guides (system + custom) |
+| `rah_read_guide` | Read a guide by name |
+| `rah_write_guide` | Create or update a custom guide |
+| `rah_delete_guide` | Delete a custom guide |
 
 **Example prompts for Claude Code:**
 - "What's in my knowledge graph?"
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/README.md b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/README.md
index dac0e60..adcaa1f 100644
--- a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/README.md
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/README.md
@@ -61,6 +61,16 @@ Once connected, Claude will:
 | `rah_create_dimension` | Create a dimension |
 | `rah_update_dimension` | Update/rename a dimension |
 | `rah_delete_dimension` | Delete a dimension |
+| `rah_list_guides` | List available guides (system + custom) |
+| `rah_read_guide` | Read a guide by name |
+| `rah_write_guide` | Create or update a custom guide |
+| `rah_delete_guide` | Delete a custom guide |
+
+## Guides
+
+Guides are detailed instruction sets that teach Claude how to work with your knowledge base. System guides (schema, creating-nodes, edges, dimensions, extract) are bundled and immutable. You can create up to 10 custom guides for your own workflows.
+
+Guides are stored at `~/Library/Application Support/RA-H/guides/` and shared with the main app.
 
 ## What's NOT Included
 
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/preferences.md b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/preferences.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a38553
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/preferences.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+name: Preferences
+description: Your communication style, workflow rules, and current priorities.
+---
+
+# Preferences
+
+Add your preferences here. The agent will read this guide to understand how you like to work.
+
+## Examples of what to put here
+- Communication style (bullet points vs prose, level of detail)
+- Workflow rules (always ask before creating dimensions, etc.)
+- Current priorities (what you're focused on this week)
+- Timezone and locale
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/creating-nodes.md b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/creating-nodes.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7beb0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/creating-nodes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+---
+name: Creating Nodes
+description: When and how to create nodes. Link field rules. Synthesis patterns.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Creating Nodes
+
+## When to Create
+
+- User explicitly asks to save/capture something
+- Extracting insights from existing content (synthesis)
+- Ingesting external content (YouTube, website, PDF)
+
+## Link Field Rules
+
+- **Has link:** Node directly represents external content (YouTube video, website, PDF, article)
+- **No link:** Node is derived/synthesized from existing content (ideas, insights, summaries, questions)
+- Never add a link to synthesis or idea nodes
+
+## Synthesis Pattern
+
+When creating a node derived from existing content:
+1. Create the node WITHOUT a link field
+2. Call `createEdge` to connect it to ALL source nodes
+3. Each edge needs an explanation ("Insight extracted from...", "Synthesized from...")
+
+## Dimension Assignment
+
+- New nodes should be assigned to relevant existing dimensions
+- Check locked/priority dimensions — these auto-assign
+- If no existing dimension fits, create a new one (but prefer existing)
+
+## Description Field
+
+- AI auto-generates a ~1 sentence description after creation
+- Description is used for embeddings and search ranking (5x boost)
+- Format: what is this node about, in plain language
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/dimensions.md b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/dimensions.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a38121
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/dimensions.md
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+---
+name: Dimensions
+description: Create, lock, describe, organize, clean up dimensions.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Dimensions
+
+Dimensions are how nodes are categorized and organized. Think of them as flexible tags with descriptions.
+
+## Operations
+
+- **Create:** `createDimension(name, description, isPriority)`
+- **Update:** `updateDimension(name, { newName, description, isPriority })`
+- **Delete:** `deleteDimension(name)` — removes from all nodes
+- **Query:** Use sqliteQuery to list dimensions and their node counts
+
+## Locking (Priority)
+
+- `isPriority = true` (locked) → dimension auto-assigns to new nodes when relevant
+- `isPriority = false` (unlocked) → manual assignment only
+- Lock dimensions that represent active areas of focus
+
+## Naming Conventions
+
+- Lowercase, concise (e.g., "ai", "philosophy", "ra-h")
+- Use singular form where natural
+- Avoid overlapping names (don't have both "ai" and "artificial-intelligence")
+
+## Description
+
+Every dimension should have a description explaining its purpose. This helps the AI correctly assign nodes to dimensions.
+
+## Cleanup
+
+- Delete dimensions with 0 nodes
+- Merge overlapping dimensions (update nodes, then delete the redundant one)
+- Regularly review dimension list for coherence
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/edges.md b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/edges.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3176398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/edges.md
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+name: Edges
+description: Edge philosophy. Explanations, direction, types. Connection patterns.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Edges
+
+## Philosophy
+
+Edges are the most valuable part of the knowledge graph. Individual nodes are useful; the web of connections between them is what makes the graph powerful.
+
+## Rules
+
+1. **Every edge needs an explanation** — why does this connection exist? Be specific.
+2. **Direction matters** — FROM → TO should read like a sentence
+3. **Types are inferred** — the system infers category/type from your explanation. Don't set types manually.
+
+## Direction Convention
+
+Write the explanation so FROM → TO reads naturally:
+- Episode → Podcast: "Episode of this podcast"
+- Book → Author: "Written by this author"
+- Insight → Source: "Extracted from this source"
+- Idea → Related idea: "Builds on this concept"
+
+## Edge Context JSON
+
+```json
+{
+  "explanation": "Human-readable reason",
+  "category": "inferred (created_by, features, part_of, source_of, related_to)",
+  "type": "inferred specific type",
+  "confidence": 0.0-1.0,
+  "created_via": "chat|mcp|workflow"
+}
+```
+
+## Hub Traversal
+
+Hub nodes (most-connected) are the user's core themes. To understand context around a topic:
+1. Find the relevant hub node
+2. Use `queryEdge` or sqliteQuery to get its connections
+3. Traverse outward to related nodes
+
+## When to Create Edges
+
+- After creating synthesis/idea nodes (connect to sources)
+- When user mentions a relationship between topics
+- When running the Connect or Integrate guides
+- When obvious connections exist that aren't captured
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/extract.md b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/extract.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e2e519
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/extract.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+---
+name: Extract
+description: Extraction pre-check. When to reuse chunks vs re-extract.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Content Extraction
+
+## Pre-Check (REQUIRED)
+
+Before running any extraction tool, always check the node first:
+
+1. Call `getNodesById` on the target node
+2. Check `chunk_status`:
+   - **'chunked'** → content already extracted. Reuse existing chunks. Do NOT re-extract.
+   - **'pending'** or missing → safe to extract
+   - **'failed'** → previous extraction failed, safe to retry
+
+3. Check if embeddings are available (chunk length > 0)
+   - If available, use `searchContentEmbeddings` instead of re-extracting
+
+## Extraction Tools
+
+- **youtubeExtract** — YouTube videos (requires URL with video ID)
+- **websiteExtract** — Web pages (uses Jina.ai for JS-rendered sites)
+- **paperExtract** — PDF files (requires direct PDF URL)
+
+## After Extraction
+
+- The extracted content goes into `chunk` (full source)
+- AI generates a `description` (grounding summary)
+- Embeddings are created automatically
+- Assign to relevant dimensions
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/schema.md b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/schema.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c0fa80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/guides/system/schema.md
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+---
+name: Schema
+description: Full database schema, tables, columns, query patterns.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Database Schema
+
+## Tables
+
+### nodes
+| Column | Type | Notes |
+|--------|------|-------|
+| id | INTEGER | Primary key, auto-increment |
+| title | TEXT | Required |
+| description | TEXT | AI-generated grounding context (~1 sentence) |
+| content | TEXT | User's notes/thoughts (not source content) |
+| chunk | TEXT | Full verbatim source content |
+| chunk_status | TEXT | 'pending', 'chunked', 'failed' |
+| link | TEXT | External URL (only for nodes representing external content) |
+| type | TEXT | Nullable (reserved for future use) |
+| metadata | TEXT | JSON blob (map_position, transcript_length, etc.) |
+| is_pinned | INTEGER | Legacy — use hub node queries instead |
+| created_at | TEXT | ISO timestamp |
+| updated_at | TEXT | ISO timestamp |
+
+### edges
+| Column | Type | Notes |
+|--------|------|-------|
+| id | INTEGER | Primary key |
+| from_node_id | INTEGER | FK → nodes.id |
+| to_node_id | INTEGER | FK → nodes.id |
+| context | TEXT | JSON: `{ explanation, category, type, confidence, created_via }` |
+| source | TEXT | 'user', 'ai_similarity', or helper name |
+| explanation | TEXT | Human-readable reason for connection |
+| created_at | TEXT | ISO timestamp |
+
+### dimensions
+| Column | Type | Notes |
+|--------|------|-------|
+| id | INTEGER | Primary key |
+| name | TEXT | Unique, case-insensitive |
+| description | TEXT | Purpose description |
+| is_locked | INTEGER | 1 = priority dimension (auto-assigns to new nodes) |
+
+### node_dimensions (junction)
+| Column | Type |
+|--------|------|
+| node_id | INTEGER FK → nodes.id |
+| dimension_id | INTEGER FK → dimensions.id |
+
+### chunks (for semantic search)
+| Column | Type | Notes |
+|--------|------|-------|
+| id | INTEGER | Primary key |
+| node_id | INTEGER | FK → nodes.id |
+| chunk_index | INTEGER | Position in sequence |
+| text | TEXT | Chunk content |
+| embedding | BLOB | Vector (via sqlite-vec) |
+
+### FTS Tables
+- `chunks_fts` — full-text search on chunk text
+- `nodes_fts` — full-text search on node title + content
+
+## Common Query Patterns
+
+**Top connected nodes (hubs):**
+```sql
+SELECT n.id, n.title, n.description, COUNT(DISTINCT e.id) AS edge_count
+FROM nodes n
+LEFT JOIN edges e ON (e.from_node_id = n.id OR e.to_node_id = n.id)
+GROUP BY n.id ORDER BY edge_count DESC LIMIT 5
+```
+
+**Nodes in a dimension:**
+```sql
+SELECT n.* FROM nodes n
+JOIN node_dimensions nd ON n.id = nd.node_id
+JOIN dimensions d ON nd.dimension_id = d.id
+WHERE d.name = ?
+```
+
+**Edges for a node (both directions):**
+```sql
+SELECT e.*, n1.title as from_title, n2.title as to_title
+FROM edges e
+JOIN nodes n1 ON e.from_node_id = n1.id
+JOIN nodes n2 ON e.to_node_id = n2.id
+WHERE e.from_node_id = ? OR e.to_node_id = ?
+```
+
+**Use sqliteQuery for any read operation not covered by structured tools.**
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/index.js b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/index.js
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 1b2376e..542f1e8
--- a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/index.js
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/index.js
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@ const { initDatabase, getDatabasePath, closeDatabase } = require('./services/sql
 const nodeService = require('./services/nodeService');
 const edgeService = require('./services/edgeService');
 const dimensionService = require('./services/dimensionService');
+const guideService = require('./services/guideService');
 
 // Server info
 const serverInfo = {
   name: 'ra-h-standalone',
-  version: '1.1.0'
+  version: '1.2.0'
 };
 
 const instructions = [
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ const instructions = [
   'Proactively identify valuable information in conversations and offer to save it.',
   'Search before creating to avoid duplicates.',
   'Every edge needs an explanation — why does this connection exist?',
+  'Guides are detailed instruction sets — call rah_list_guides when you need procedural help.',
   'All data stays on this device.'
 ].join(' ');
 
@@ -92,6 +94,19 @@ const deleteDimensionInputSchema = {
   name: z.string().min(1).describe('Dimension name to delete')
 };
 
+const readGuideInputSchema = {
+  name: z.string().min(1).describe('Guide name (e.g. "edges", "creating-nodes", "schema")')
+};
+
+const writeGuideInputSchema = {
+  name: z.string().min(1).describe('Guide name (lowercase, no spaces)'),
+  content: z.string().min(1).describe('Full markdown content including YAML frontmatter (name, description)')
+};
+
+const deleteGuideInputSchema = {
+  name: z.string().min(1).describe('Guide name to delete')
+};
+
 // Helper to sanitize dimensions
 function sanitizeDimensions(raw) {
   if (!Array.isArray(raw)) return [];
@@ -138,6 +153,8 @@ async function main() {
     },
     async () => {
       const context = nodeService.getContext();
+      const guides = guideService.listGuides();
+      context.guides = guides.map(g => ({ name: g.name, description: g.description, immutable: g.immutable }));
 
       // First-run welcome message
       if (context.stats.nodeCount === 0) {
@@ -151,7 +168,7 @@ async function main() {
         };
       }
 
-      const summary = `Graph: ${context.stats.nodeCount} nodes, ${context.stats.edgeCount} edges, ${context.stats.dimensionCount} dimensions.`;
+      const summary = `Graph: ${context.stats.nodeCount} nodes, ${context.stats.edgeCount} edges, ${context.stats.dimensionCount} dimensions, ${guides.length} guides.`;
       return {
         content: [{ type: 'text', text: summary }],
         structuredContent: context
@@ -472,6 +489,99 @@ async function main() {
     }
   );
 
+  // ========== GUIDE TOOLS ==========
+
+  server.registerTool(
+    'rah_list_guides',
+    {
+      title: 'List RA-H guides',
+      description: 'List available guides — detailed instruction sets for working with the knowledge graph. Includes system guides (immutable) and user-created guides.',
+      inputSchema: {}
+    },
+    async () => {
+      const guides = guideService.listGuides();
+
+      return {
+        content: [{ type: 'text', text: `Found ${guides.length} guide(s).` }],
+        structuredContent: {
+          count: guides.length,
+          guides
+        }
+      };
+    }
+  );
+
+  server.registerTool(
+    'rah_read_guide',
+    {
+      title: 'Read RA-H guide',
+      description: 'Read a guide by name. Returns full markdown content with procedural instructions.',
+      inputSchema: readGuideInputSchema
+    },
+    async ({ name }) => {
+      const guide = guideService.readGuide(name);
+
+      if (!guide) {
+        throw new Error(`Guide "${name}" not found. Call rah_list_guides to see available guides.`);
+      }
+
+      return {
+        content: [{ type: 'text', text: guide.content }],
+        structuredContent: guide
+      };
+    }
+  );
+
+  server.registerTool(
+    'rah_write_guide',
+    {
+      title: 'Write RA-H guide',
+      description: 'Create or update a custom guide. System guides cannot be modified. Content should be markdown with YAML frontmatter (name, description).',
+      inputSchema: writeGuideInputSchema
+    },
+    async ({ name, content }) => {
+      const result = guideService.writeGuide(name, content);
+
+      if (!result.success) {
+        throw new Error(result.error);
+      }
+
+      return {
+        content: [{ type: 'text', text: `Guide "${name}" saved.` }],
+        structuredContent: {
+          success: true,
+          name,
+          message: `Guide "${name}" saved.`
+        }
+      };
+    }
+  );
+
+  server.registerTool(
+    'rah_delete_guide',
+    {
+      title: 'Delete RA-H guide',
+      description: 'Delete a custom guide. System guides cannot be deleted.',
+      inputSchema: deleteGuideInputSchema
+    },
+    async ({ name }) => {
+      const result = guideService.deleteGuide(name);
+
+      if (!result.success) {
+        throw new Error(result.error);
+      }
+
+      return {
+        content: [{ type: 'text', text: `Guide "${name}" deleted.` }],
+        structuredContent: {
+          success: true,
+          name,
+          message: `Guide "${name}" deleted.`
+        }
+      };
+    }
+  );
+
   // Connect transport
   const transport = new StdioServerTransport();
   await server.connect(transport);
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/package.json b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/package.json
index 38d4845..bdb59c2 100644
--- a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/package.json
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "ra-h-mcp-server",
-  "version": "1.1.0",
+  "version": "1.2.0",
   "description": "Connect Claude Code/Desktop to your RA-H knowledge base. Direct SQLite access - no web app required.",
   "main": "index.js",
   "bin": {
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
   "files": [
     "index.js",
     "services/",
+    "guides/",
     "README.md"
   ]
 }
diff --git a/apps/mcp-server-standalone/services/guideService.js b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/services/guideService.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..330fe6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/mcp-server-standalone/services/guideService.js
@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+'use strict';
+
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const os = require('node:os');
+
+const MAX_USER_GUIDES = 10;
+
+// Where guides live on disk (shared with the app)
+const GUIDES_DIR = path.join(
+  os.homedir(),
+  'Library', 'Application Support', 'RA-H', 'guides'
+);
+
+// System guides bundled with this package
+const BUNDLED_SYSTEM_DIR = path.join(__dirname, '..', 'guides', 'system');
+const BUNDLED_USER_DIR = path.join(__dirname, '..', 'guides');
+
+// System guide names (immutable, always re-seeded)
+const SYSTEM_GUIDE_NAMES = new Set([
+  'schema',
+  'creating-nodes',
+  'edges',
+  'dimensions',
+  'extract',
+]);
+
+/**
+ * Parse YAML frontmatter from markdown without external deps.
+ * Returns { data: {}, content: string }
+ */
+function parseFrontmatter(raw) {
+  const match = raw.match(/^---\r?\n([\s\S]*?)\r?\n---\r?\n?([\s\S]*)$/);
+  if (!match) return { data: {}, content: raw.trim() };
+
+  const yamlBlock = match[1];
+  const content = match[2];
+  const data = {};
+
+  for (const line of yamlBlock.split('\n')) {
+    const colonIdx = line.indexOf(':');
+    if (colonIdx === -1) continue;
+    const key = line.slice(0, colonIdx).trim();
+    let value = line.slice(colonIdx + 1).trim();
+    // Handle booleans
+    if (value === 'true') value = true;
+    else if (value === 'false') value = false;
+    data[key] = value;
+  }
+
+  return { data, content: content.trim() };
+}
+
+function isSystemGuide(filename) {
+  const name = filename.replace('.md', '');
+  return SYSTEM_GUIDE_NAMES.has(name);
+}
+
+function ensureGuidesDir() {
+  if (!fs.existsSync(GUIDES_DIR)) {
+    fs.mkdirSync(GUIDES_DIR, { recursive: true });
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Seed guides on first run.
+ * System guides always overwrite. User guides only seed if missing.
+ */
+function seedGuides() {
+  ensureGuidesDir();
+
+  // Always re-seed system guides (immutable)
+  if (fs.existsSync(BUNDLED_SYSTEM_DIR)) {
+    const files = fs.readdirSync(BUNDLED_SYSTEM_DIR).filter(f => f.endsWith('.md'));
+    for (const file of files) {
+      fs.copyFileSync(path.join(BUNDLED_SYSTEM_DIR, file), path.join(GUIDES_DIR, file));
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Seed default user guides only if they don't exist
+  if (fs.existsSync(BUNDLED_USER_DIR)) {
+    const files = fs.readdirSync(BUNDLED_USER_DIR).filter(f => f.endsWith('.md'));
+    for (const file of files) {
+      const dest = path.join(GUIDES_DIR, file);
+      if (!fs.existsSync(dest)) {
+        fs.copyFileSync(path.join(BUNDLED_USER_DIR, file), dest);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+let initialized = false;
+
+function init() {
+  if (initialized) return;
+  seedGuides();
+  initialized = true;
+}
+
+/**
+ * List all guides with name, description, immutable flag.
+ */
+function listGuides() {
+  init();
+  if (!fs.existsSync(GUIDES_DIR)) return [];
+
+  const files = fs.readdirSync(GUIDES_DIR).filter(f => f.endsWith('.md'));
+
+  const guides = files.map(file => {
+    const raw = fs.readFileSync(path.join(GUIDES_DIR, file), 'utf-8');
+    const { data } = parseFrontmatter(raw);
+    const immutable = isSystemGuide(file) || data.immutable === true;
+    return {
+      name: data.name || file.replace('.md', ''),
+      description: data.description || '',
+      immutable,
+    };
+  });
+
+  // System guides first, then user guides alphabetically
+  return guides.sort((a, b) => {
+    if (a.immutable && !b.immutable) return -1;
+    if (!a.immutable && b.immutable) return 1;
+    return a.name.localeCompare(b.name);
+  });
+}
+
+/**
+ * Read a guide by name. Returns full content.
+ */
+function readGuide(name) {
+  init();
+  const candidates = [`${name}.md`, `${name.toLowerCase()}.md`];
+
+  for (const filename of candidates) {
+    const filepath = path.join(GUIDES_DIR, filename);
+    if (fs.existsSync(filepath)) {
+      const raw = fs.readFileSync(filepath, 'utf-8');
+      const { data, content } = parseFrontmatter(raw);
+      const immutable = isSystemGuide(filename) || data.immutable === true;
+      return {
+        name: data.name || name,
+        description: data.description || '',
+        immutable,
+        content,
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
+  return null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Write or update a guide. Rejects writes to system guides.
+ */
+function writeGuide(name, content) {
+  init();
+  const filename = `${name.toLowerCase()}.md`;
+
+  if (isSystemGuide(filename)) {
+    return { success: false, error: `Guide "${name}" is a system guide and cannot be modified.` };
+  }
+
+  const filepath = path.join(GUIDES_DIR, filename);
+  if (!fs.existsSync(filepath)) {
+    const userCount = listGuides().filter(g => !g.immutable).length;
+    if (userCount >= MAX_USER_GUIDES) {
+      return { success: false, error: `Maximum of ${MAX_USER_GUIDES} custom guides reached. Delete a guide first.` };
+    }
+  }
+
+  ensureGuidesDir();
+  fs.writeFileSync(filepath, content, 'utf-8');
+  return { success: true };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Delete a guide. Rejects deletes of system guides.
+ */
+function deleteGuide(name) {
+  init();
+  const candidates = [`${name}.md`, `${name.toLowerCase()}.md`];
+
+  for (const filename of candidates) {
+    if (isSystemGuide(filename)) {
+      return { success: false, error: `Guide "${name}" is a system guide and cannot be deleted.` };
+    }
+    const filepath = path.join(GUIDES_DIR, filename);
+    if (fs.existsSync(filepath)) {
+      fs.unlinkSync(filepath);
+      return { success: true };
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { success: false, error: `Guide "${name}" not found.` };
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  listGuides,
+  readGuide,
+  writeGuide,
+  deleteGuide,
+};
diff --git a/docs/8_mcp.md b/docs/8_mcp.md
index c924b33..f8bd987 100644
--- a/docs/8_mcp.md
+++ b/docs/8_mcp.md
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ If you want real-time UI updates when nodes are created:
 | `rah_create_dimension` | Create a new dimension |
 | `rah_update_dimension` | Update/rename dimension |
 | `rah_delete_dimension` | Delete a dimension |
+| `rah_list_guides` | List available guides (system + custom) |
+| `rah_read_guide` | Read a guide by name |
+| `rah_write_guide` | Create or update a custom guide |
+| `rah_delete_guide` | Delete a custom guide |
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/src/config/guides/preferences.md b/src/config/guides/preferences.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a38553
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/guides/preferences.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+name: Preferences
+description: Your communication style, workflow rules, and current priorities.
+---
+
+# Preferences
+
+Add your preferences here. The agent will read this guide to understand how you like to work.
+
+## Examples of what to put here
+- Communication style (bullet points vs prose, level of detail)
+- Workflow rules (always ask before creating dimensions, etc.)
+- Current priorities (what you're focused on this week)
+- Timezone and locale
diff --git a/src/config/guides/system/creating-nodes.md b/src/config/guides/system/creating-nodes.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7beb0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/guides/system/creating-nodes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+---
+name: Creating Nodes
+description: When and how to create nodes. Link field rules. Synthesis patterns.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Creating Nodes
+
+## When to Create
+
+- User explicitly asks to save/capture something
+- Extracting insights from existing content (synthesis)
+- Ingesting external content (YouTube, website, PDF)
+
+## Link Field Rules
+
+- **Has link:** Node directly represents external content (YouTube video, website, PDF, article)
+- **No link:** Node is derived/synthesized from existing content (ideas, insights, summaries, questions)
+- Never add a link to synthesis or idea nodes
+
+## Synthesis Pattern
+
+When creating a node derived from existing content:
+1. Create the node WITHOUT a link field
+2. Call `createEdge` to connect it to ALL source nodes
+3. Each edge needs an explanation ("Insight extracted from...", "Synthesized from...")
+
+## Dimension Assignment
+
+- New nodes should be assigned to relevant existing dimensions
+- Check locked/priority dimensions — these auto-assign
+- If no existing dimension fits, create a new one (but prefer existing)
+
+## Description Field
+
+- AI auto-generates a ~1 sentence description after creation
+- Description is used for embeddings and search ranking (5x boost)
+- Format: what is this node about, in plain language
diff --git a/src/config/guides/system/dimensions.md b/src/config/guides/system/dimensions.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a38121
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/guides/system/dimensions.md
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+---
+name: Dimensions
+description: Create, lock, describe, organize, clean up dimensions.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Dimensions
+
+Dimensions are how nodes are categorized and organized. Think of them as flexible tags with descriptions.
+
+## Operations
+
+- **Create:** `createDimension(name, description, isPriority)`
+- **Update:** `updateDimension(name, { newName, description, isPriority })`
+- **Delete:** `deleteDimension(name)` — removes from all nodes
+- **Query:** Use sqliteQuery to list dimensions and their node counts
+
+## Locking (Priority)
+
+- `isPriority = true` (locked) → dimension auto-assigns to new nodes when relevant
+- `isPriority = false` (unlocked) → manual assignment only
+- Lock dimensions that represent active areas of focus
+
+## Naming Conventions
+
+- Lowercase, concise (e.g., "ai", "philosophy", "ra-h")
+- Use singular form where natural
+- Avoid overlapping names (don't have both "ai" and "artificial-intelligence")
+
+## Description
+
+Every dimension should have a description explaining its purpose. This helps the AI correctly assign nodes to dimensions.
+
+## Cleanup
+
+- Delete dimensions with 0 nodes
+- Merge overlapping dimensions (update nodes, then delete the redundant one)
+- Regularly review dimension list for coherence
diff --git a/src/config/guides/system/edges.md b/src/config/guides/system/edges.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3176398
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/guides/system/edges.md
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+---
+name: Edges
+description: Edge philosophy. Explanations, direction, types. Connection patterns.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Edges
+
+## Philosophy
+
+Edges are the most valuable part of the knowledge graph. Individual nodes are useful; the web of connections between them is what makes the graph powerful.
+
+## Rules
+
+1. **Every edge needs an explanation** — why does this connection exist? Be specific.
+2. **Direction matters** — FROM → TO should read like a sentence
+3. **Types are inferred** — the system infers category/type from your explanation. Don't set types manually.
+
+## Direction Convention
+
+Write the explanation so FROM → TO reads naturally:
+- Episode → Podcast: "Episode of this podcast"
+- Book → Author: "Written by this author"
+- Insight → Source: "Extracted from this source"
+- Idea → Related idea: "Builds on this concept"
+
+## Edge Context JSON
+
+```json
+{
+  "explanation": "Human-readable reason",
+  "category": "inferred (created_by, features, part_of, source_of, related_to)",
+  "type": "inferred specific type",
+  "confidence": 0.0-1.0,
+  "created_via": "chat|mcp|workflow"
+}
+```
+
+## Hub Traversal
+
+Hub nodes (most-connected) are the user's core themes. To understand context around a topic:
+1. Find the relevant hub node
+2. Use `queryEdge` or sqliteQuery to get its connections
+3. Traverse outward to related nodes
+
+## When to Create Edges
+
+- After creating synthesis/idea nodes (connect to sources)
+- When user mentions a relationship between topics
+- When running the Connect or Integrate guides
+- When obvious connections exist that aren't captured
diff --git a/src/config/guides/system/extract.md b/src/config/guides/system/extract.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e2e519
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/guides/system/extract.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+---
+name: Extract
+description: Extraction pre-check. When to reuse chunks vs re-extract.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Content Extraction
+
+## Pre-Check (REQUIRED)
+
+Before running any extraction tool, always check the node first:
+
+1. Call `getNodesById` on the target node
+2. Check `chunk_status`:
+   - **'chunked'** → content already extracted. Reuse existing chunks. Do NOT re-extract.
+   - **'pending'** or missing → safe to extract
+   - **'failed'** → previous extraction failed, safe to retry
+
+3. Check if embeddings are available (chunk length > 0)
+   - If available, use `searchContentEmbeddings` instead of re-extracting
+
+## Extraction Tools
+
+- **youtubeExtract** — YouTube videos (requires URL with video ID)
+- **websiteExtract** — Web pages (uses Jina.ai for JS-rendered sites)
+- **paperExtract** — PDF files (requires direct PDF URL)
+
+## After Extraction
+
+- The extracted content goes into `chunk` (full source)
+- AI generates a `description` (grounding summary)
+- Embeddings are created automatically
+- Assign to relevant dimensions
diff --git a/src/config/guides/system/schema.md b/src/config/guides/system/schema.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c0fa80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config/guides/system/schema.md
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+---
+name: Schema
+description: Full database schema, tables, columns, query patterns.
+immutable: true
+---
+
+# Database Schema
+
+## Tables
+
+### nodes
+| Column | Type | Notes |
+|--------|------|-------|
+| id | INTEGER | Primary key, auto-increment |
+| title | TEXT | Required |
+| description | TEXT | AI-generated grounding context (~1 sentence) |
+| content | TEXT | User's notes/thoughts (not source content) |
+| chunk | TEXT | Full verbatim source content |
+| chunk_status | TEXT | 'pending', 'chunked', 'failed' |
+| link | TEXT | External URL (only for nodes representing external content) |
+| type | TEXT | Nullable (reserved for future use) |
+| metadata | TEXT | JSON blob (map_position, transcript_length, etc.) |
+| is_pinned | INTEGER | Legacy — use hub node queries instead |
+| created_at | TEXT | ISO timestamp |
+| updated_at | TEXT | ISO timestamp |
+
+### edges
+| Column | Type | Notes |
+|--------|------|-------|
+| id | INTEGER | Primary key |
+| from_node_id | INTEGER | FK → nodes.id |
+| to_node_id | INTEGER | FK → nodes.id |
+| context | TEXT | JSON: `{ explanation, category, type, confidence, created_via }` |
+| source | TEXT | 'user', 'ai_similarity', or helper name |
+| explanation | TEXT | Human-readable reason for connection |
+| created_at | TEXT | ISO timestamp |
+
+### dimensions
+| Column | Type | Notes |
+|--------|------|-------|
+| id | INTEGER | Primary key |
+| name | TEXT | Unique, case-insensitive |
+| description | TEXT | Purpose description |
+| is_locked | INTEGER | 1 = priority dimension (auto-assigns to new nodes) |
+
+### node_dimensions (junction)
+| Column | Type |
+|--------|------|
+| node_id | INTEGER FK → nodes.id |
+| dimension_id | INTEGER FK → dimensions.id |
+
+### chunks (for semantic search)
+| Column | Type | Notes |
+|--------|------|-------|
+| id | INTEGER | Primary key |
+| node_id | INTEGER | FK → nodes.id |
+| chunk_index | INTEGER | Position in sequence |
+| text | TEXT | Chunk content |
+| embedding | BLOB | Vector (via sqlite-vec) |
+
+### FTS Tables
+- `chunks_fts` — full-text search on chunk text
+- `nodes_fts` — full-text search on node title + content
+
+## Common Query Patterns
+
+**Top connected nodes (hubs):**
+```sql
+SELECT n.id, n.title, n.description, COUNT(DISTINCT e.id) AS edge_count
+FROM nodes n
+LEFT JOIN edges e ON (e.from_node_id = n.id OR e.to_node_id = n.id)
+GROUP BY n.id ORDER BY edge_count DESC LIMIT 5
+```
+
+**Nodes in a dimension:**
+```sql
+SELECT n.* FROM nodes n
+JOIN node_dimensions nd ON n.id = nd.node_id
+JOIN dimensions d ON nd.dimension_id = d.id
+WHERE d.name = ?
+```
+
+**Edges for a node (both directions):**
+```sql
+SELECT e.*, n1.title as from_title, n2.title as to_title
+FROM edges e
+JOIN nodes n1 ON e.from_node_id = n1.id
+JOIN nodes n2 ON e.to_node_id = n2.id
+WHERE e.from_node_id = ? OR e.to_node_id = ?
+```
+
+**Use sqliteQuery for any read operation not covered by structured tools.**
diff --git a/src/services/guides/guideService.ts b/src/services/guides/guideService.ts
index 6a637ca..53b46dc 100644
--- a/src/services/guides/guideService.ts
+++ b/src/services/guides/guideService.ts
@@ -6,64 +6,110 @@ import matter from 'gray-matter';
 export interface GuideMeta {
   name: string;
   description: string;
+  immutable: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface Guide extends GuideMeta {
   content: string;
 }
 
+const MAX_USER_GUIDES = 10;
+
 const GUIDES_DIR = path.join(
   os.homedir(),
   'Library/Application Support/RA-H/guides'
 );
 
-const BUNDLED_GUIDES_DIR = path.join(
+const SYSTEM_GUIDES_DIR = path.join(
+  process.cwd(),
+  'src/config/guides/system'
+);
+
+const USER_GUIDES_DIR = path.join(
   process.cwd(),
   'src/config/guides'
 );
 
+// System guide names (immutable, always re-seeded)
+const SYSTEM_GUIDE_NAMES = new Set([
+  'schema',
+  'creating-nodes',
+  'edges',
+  'dimensions',
+  'extract',
+]);
+
 function ensureGuidesDir(): void {
   if (!fs.existsSync(GUIDES_DIR)) {
     fs.mkdirSync(GUIDES_DIR, { recursive: true });
   }
 }
 
-function seedDefaultGuides(): void {
-  if (!fs.existsSync(BUNDLED_GUIDES_DIR)) return;
+/**
+ * Seed system guides — always overwritten on app start to stay current.
+ * User guides are only seeded if they don't already exist.
+ */
+function seedGuides(): void {
+  // Always re-seed system guides (immutable, kept up to date)
+  if (fs.existsSync(SYSTEM_GUIDES_DIR)) {
+    const systemFiles = fs.readdirSync(SYSTEM_GUIDES_DIR).filter(f => f.endsWith('.md'));
+    for (const file of systemFiles) {
+      const dest = path.join(GUIDES_DIR, file);
+      fs.copyFileSync(path.join(SYSTEM_GUIDES_DIR, file), dest);
+    }
+  }
 
-  const bundled = fs.readdirSync(BUNDLED_GUIDES_DIR).filter(f => f.endsWith('.md'));
-  for (const file of bundled) {
-    const dest = path.join(GUIDES_DIR, file);
-    if (!fs.existsSync(dest)) {
-      fs.copyFileSync(path.join(BUNDLED_GUIDES_DIR, file), dest);
+  // Seed default user guides only if they don't exist
+  if (fs.existsSync(USER_GUIDES_DIR)) {
+    const userFiles = fs.readdirSync(USER_GUIDES_DIR).filter(f => f.endsWith('.md'));
+    for (const file of userFiles) {
+      const dest = path.join(GUIDES_DIR, file);
+      if (!fs.existsSync(dest)) {
+        fs.copyFileSync(path.join(USER_GUIDES_DIR, file), dest);
+      }
     }
   }
 }
 
+let initialized = false;
+
 function init(): void {
+  if (initialized) return;
   ensureGuidesDir();
-  const existing = fs.readdirSync(GUIDES_DIR).filter(f => f.endsWith('.md'));
-  if (existing.length === 0) {
-    seedDefaultGuides();
-  }
+  seedGuides();
+  initialized = true;
+}
+
+function isSystemGuide(filename: string): boolean {
+  const name = filename.replace('.md', '');
+  return SYSTEM_GUIDE_NAMES.has(name);
 }
 
 export function listGuides(): GuideMeta[] {
   init();
   const files = fs.readdirSync(GUIDES_DIR).filter(f => f.endsWith('.md'));
-  return files.map(file => {
+
+  const guides = files.map(file => {
     const raw = fs.readFileSync(path.join(GUIDES_DIR, file), 'utf-8');
     const { data } = matter(raw);
+    const immutable = isSystemGuide(file) || data.immutable === true;
     return {
       name: data.name || file.replace('.md', ''),
       description: data.description || '',
+      immutable,
     };
   });
+
+  // System guides first, then user guides alphabetically
+  return guides.sort((a, b) => {
+    if (a.immutable && !b.immutable) return -1;
+    if (!a.immutable && b.immutable) return 1;
+    return a.name.localeCompare(b.name);
+  });
 }
 
 export function readGuide(name: string): Guide | null {
   init();
-  // Try exact filename first, then lowercase
   const candidates = [
     `${name}.md`,
     `${name.toLowerCase()}.md`,
@@ -74,9 +120,11 @@ export function readGuide(name: string): Guide | null {
     if (fs.existsSync(filepath)) {
       const raw = fs.readFileSync(filepath, 'utf-8');
       const { data, content } = matter(raw);
+      const immutable = isSystemGuide(filename) || data.immutable === true;
       return {
         name: data.name || name,
         description: data.description || '',
+        immutable,
         content: content.trim(),
       };
     }
@@ -85,9 +133,64 @@ export function readGuide(name: string): Guide | null {
   return null;
 }
 
-export function writeGuide(name: string, content: string): void {
+export function writeGuide(name: string, content: string): { success: boolean; error?: string } {
   init();
   const filename = `${name.toLowerCase()}.md`;
+
+  // Reject writes to immutable guides
+  if (isSystemGuide(filename)) {
+    return { success: false, error: `Guide "${name}" is a system guide and cannot be modified.` };
+  }
+
+  // Check user guide cap for new guides
   const filepath = path.join(GUIDES_DIR, filename);
+  if (!fs.existsSync(filepath)) {
+    const userGuideCount = getUserGuideCount();
+    if (userGuideCount >= MAX_USER_GUIDES) {
+      return { success: false, error: `Maximum of ${MAX_USER_GUIDES} custom guides reached. Delete a guide first.` };
+    }
+  }
+
   fs.writeFileSync(filepath, content, 'utf-8');
+  return { success: true };
+}
+
+export function deleteGuide(name: string): { success: boolean; error?: string } {
+  init();
+  const candidates = [
+    `${name}.md`,
+    `${name.toLowerCase()}.md`,
+  ];
+
+  for (const filename of candidates) {
+    // Reject deletes of immutable guides
+    if (isSystemGuide(filename)) {
+      return { success: false, error: `Guide "${name}" is a system guide and cannot be deleted.` };
+    }
+
+    const filepath = path.join(GUIDES_DIR, filename);
+    if (fs.existsSync(filepath)) {
+      fs.unlinkSync(filepath);
+      return { success: true };
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { success: false, error: `Guide "${name}" not found.` };
+}
+
+export function getUserGuideCount(): number {
+  init();
+  const files = fs.readdirSync(GUIDES_DIR).filter(f => f.endsWith('.md'));
+  return files.filter(f => !isSystemGuide(f)).length;
+}
+
+export function getGuideStats(): { userGuides: number; maxUserGuides: number; systemGuides: number } {
+  const guides = listGuides();
+  const systemCount = guides.filter(g => g.immutable).length;
+  const userCount = guides.filter(g => !g.immutable).length;
+  return {
+    userGuides: userCount,
+    maxUserGuides: MAX_USER_GUIDES,
+    systemGuides: systemCount,
+  };
 }