diff --git a/VAULT_MAP.md b/VAULT_MAP.md
index badeb24..8fbad74 100644
--- a/VAULT_MAP.md
+++ b/VAULT_MAP.md
@@ -33,16 +33,45 @@ writing/             — Long-form writing projects
 documents/           — Document archive (see below)
 ```
 
-## Document Archive (`documents/`)
+## Adding Content to This Vault
 
-The `documents/` folder is an archive of personal documents (PDFs, images, etc.) with markdown transcriptions alongside each file. The entire vault (not just `documents/`) is indexed by the notesearch skill (LlamaIndex + Ollama vector search).
+If you are an LLM or agent adding content to this vault, follow the guide for the relevant section.
 
-### Folder Map
+The entire vault (not just `documents/`) is indexed by the notesearch skill (LlamaIndex + Ollama vector search).
+
+### Journals (`journals/`)
+
+- One file per day, named `YYYY-MM-DD.md`
+- Use the template at `templates/daily_journal.md` if it exists
+- Free-form daily notes, reflections, logs
+
+### Notes (`notes/`)
+
+- Personal notes organized by topic (e.g., `notes/books/`, `notes/martial_arts/`, `notes/tech/`)
+- Use descriptive filenames in snake_case (e.g., `brazilian_jiu_jitsu_log.md`)
+- No required frontmatter — these are freeform markdown notes
+
+### Trip Plans (`trip_plans/`)
+
+- One file or folder per trip
+- Include itinerary, bookings, logistics
+- Name by destination and date (e.g., `japan_2025.md`, `iceland_2024/`)
+
+### Writing (`writing/`)
+
+- Long-form writing projects
+- Organize by project in subfolders if needed
+
+### Documents (`documents/`)
+
+Archive of personal documents (PDFs, images, etc.) with markdown transcriptions alongside each file. This is the most structured section.
+
+#### Folder Map
 
 | Folder | Contents |
 |--------|----------|
 | `academic/` | PhD thesis, conference presentations, coursework, papers |
-| `argo/` | Vet records for family dog |
+| `argo/` | Vet records for family cat |
 | `car/` | Vehicle purchase documents |
 | `dmv/` | DMV applications and supporting docs |
 | `employment/` | Job offers, onboarding docs (subfolders by employer) |
@@ -58,26 +87,24 @@ The `documents/` folder is an archive of personal documents (PDFs, images, etc.)
 | `travel/` | Flight itineraries, customs forms, EVUS, family visit docs |
 | `wedding/` | Wedding-related documents |
 
-### Transcription Convention
-
-- Each original file has a matching `.md` transcription alongside it (e.g., `lu_w2_meta_2025.pdf` + `lu_w2_meta_2025.md`)
-- The `.md` file is a **faithful full transcription** of the source — every data point preserved, not a summary
-- Exception: `immigration/` subfolders use a single `summary.md` per subfolder instead of per-file transcriptions, because immigration petitions reuse many of the same supporting docs
-
-### File Naming Convention
+#### File Naming Convention
 
 ```
 {person}_{doctype}_{year}.{ext}
 ```
 
-- **person**: `lu`, `jiang`, `nichol`, `xue`, or omit if joint/obvious
+- **person**: `lu`, `jiang`, `xue`, or omit if joint/obvious
 - **doctype**: descriptive snake_case (e.g., `w2_meta`, `dl_ca`, `eye_exam`)
 - **year**: 4-digit year, or `YYYY_MM` if needed for disambiguation
 - **ext**: always lowercase
 
-## Frontmatter Taxonomy
+#### Transcription
 
-Every `.md` transcription has YAML frontmatter with these fields:
+Each original file has a matching `.md` transcription alongside it (e.g., `lu_w2_meta_2025.pdf` + `lu_w2_meta_2025.md`). The `.md` file is a **faithful full transcription** of the source — every data point preserved, not a summary.
+
+**Exception**: `immigration/` subfolders use a single `summary.md` per subfolder instead of per-file transcriptions, because immigration petitions reuse many of the same supporting docs.
+
+**Frontmatter** — every `.md` transcription must have:
 
 ```yaml
 ---
@@ -89,7 +116,13 @@ source: lu_w2_meta_2025.pdf
 ---
 ```
 
-### Categories
+- `category`: must match the top-level folder name under `documents/` (see Categories below)
+- `type`: must be one of the canonical types (see Types below)
+- `person`: full name (Yanxin Lu, Xuewei Jiang, Fengqin Xue), or "Yanxin Lu & Xuewei Jiang" if joint
+- `date`: year (YYYY) or year-month (YYYY-MM) if needed
+- `source`: filename of the original document
+
+#### Categories
 
 Category always matches the top-level folder under `documents/`.
 
@@ -111,7 +144,7 @@ Category always matches the top-level folder under `documents/`.
 | `travel` | `travel/` |
 | `wedding` | `wedding/` |
 
-### Types
+#### Types
 
 | Type | Used for |
 |------|----------|
@@ -141,7 +174,7 @@ Category always matches the top-level folder under `documents/`.
 | `travel-doc` | Flight itineraries, customs forms, EVUS, invitation letters, Global Entry |
 | `vet` | Vet medical records |
 
-### Disambiguation Rules
+#### Disambiguation Rules
 
 When a document could belong in multiple folders, file by **primary purpose**:
 
@@ -156,6 +189,24 @@ When a document could belong in multiple folders, file by **primary purpose**:
 | Insurance card | `insurance/medical/` | `medical/` |
 | Supporting docs gathered for a specific application (DMV, immigration) | Stay with that application | Don't split out |
 
+#### Verify
+
+- [ ] File is in the correct `documents/{category}/` folder
+- [ ] Filename follows `{person}_{doctype}_{year}.{ext}` convention
+- [ ] `.md` transcription exists alongside the original
+- [ ] Frontmatter has all 5 fields with valid category and type values
+- [ ] Body is a faithful full transcription (not a summary)
+
+### When Nothing Fits
+
+If content doesn't clearly belong in any existing section, folder, category, or type, **do not force it**. Flag it for the vault owner to review and decide. Do not create new folders, categories, or types without approval.
+
+### Do Not Modify
+
+- `copilot/` — Obsidian Copilot plugin data
+- `Readwise/` — Readwise sync plugin data
+- `templates/` — Note templates (read them, but don't change without asking)
+
 ## Search
 
 The vault is indexed by **notesearch** (LlamaIndex + Ollama embeddings). Search is semantic — query by meaning, not keywords. The index lives at `.index/` and is rebuilt on the blade server after `git pull`.