diff --git a/internal/cmd/rig.go b/internal/cmd/rig.go
index 5cd3a596..e4f1e2e8 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/rig.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/rig.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ var rigAddCmd = &cobra.Command{
 This creates a rig container with:
   - config.json           Rig configuration
   - .beads/               Rig-level issue tracking (initialized)
-  - .beads-ephemeral/     Local runtime tracking (gitignored)
+  - .beads-wisp/          Local wisp/molecule tracking (gitignored)
   - refinery/rig/         Canonical main clone
   - mayor/rig/            Mayor's working clone
   - crew/main/            Default human workspace
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ func runRigAdd(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	fmt.Printf("  %s/\n", name)
 	fmt.Printf("  ├── config.json\n")
 	fmt.Printf("  ├── .beads/           (prefix: %s)\n", newRig.Config.Prefix)
-	fmt.Printf("  ├── .beads-ephemeral/ (local runtime tracking)\n")
+	fmt.Printf("  ├── .beads-wisp/      (local wisp/molecule tracking)\n")
 	fmt.Printf("  ├── refinery/rig/     (canonical main)\n")
 	fmt.Printf("  ├── mayor/rig/        (mayor's clone)\n")
 	fmt.Printf("  ├── crew/%s/        (your workspace)\n", rigAddCrew)
diff --git a/internal/rig/manager.go b/internal/rig/manager.go
index 780e8bf6..62e5bd18 100644
--- a/internal/rig/manager.go
+++ b/internal/rig/manager.go
@@ -278,9 +278,9 @@ func (m *Manager) AddRig(opts AddRigOptions) (*Rig, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("initializing beads: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Initialize ephemeral beads for wisp/molecule tracking
-	if err := m.initEphemeralBeads(rigPath); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("initializing ephemeral beads: %w", err)
+	// Initialize wisp beads for wisp/molecule tracking
+	if err := m.initWispBeads(rigPath); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("initializing wisp beads: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Register in town config
@@ -356,11 +356,11 @@ func (m *Manager) initBeads(rigPath, prefix string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// initEphemeralBeads initializes the ephemeral beads database at rig level.
-// Ephemeral beads are local-only (no sync-branch) and used for runtime tracking
+// initWispBeads initializes the wisp beads database at rig level.
+// Wisp beads are local-only (no sync-branch) and used for runtime tracking
 // of wisps and molecules.
-func (m *Manager) initEphemeralBeads(rigPath string) error {
-	beadsDir := filepath.Join(rigPath, ".beads-ephemeral")
+func (m *Manager) initWispBeads(rigPath string) error {
+	beadsDir := filepath.Join(rigPath, ".beads-wisp")
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(beadsDir, 0755); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -372,16 +372,16 @@ func (m *Manager) initEphemeralBeads(rigPath string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("git init: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Create ephemeral config (no sync-branch needed)
+	// Create wisp config (no sync-branch needed)
 	configPath := filepath.Join(beadsDir, "config.yaml")
-	configContent := "ephemeral: true\n# No sync-branch - ephemeral is local only\n"
+	configContent := "wisp: true\n# No sync-branch - wisp is local only\n"
 	if err := os.WriteFile(configPath, []byte(configContent), 0644); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Add .beads-ephemeral/ to .gitignore if not already present
+	// Add .beads-wisp/ to .gitignore if not already present
 	gitignorePath := filepath.Join(rigPath, ".gitignore")
-	return m.ensureGitignoreEntry(gitignorePath, ".beads-ephemeral/")
+	return m.ensureGitignoreEntry(gitignorePath, ".beads-wisp/")
 }
 
 // ensureGitignoreEntry adds an entry to .gitignore if it doesn't already exist.
diff --git a/internal/rig/manager_test.go b/internal/rig/manager_test.go
index 254be297..4942759c 100644
--- a/internal/rig/manager_test.go
+++ b/internal/rig/manager_test.go
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ func TestRigSummary(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestInitEphemeralBeads(t *testing.T) {
+func TestInitWispBeads(t *testing.T) {
 	root, rigsConfig := setupTestTown(t)
 	manager := NewManager(root, rigsConfig, git.NewGit(root))
 
@@ -202,30 +202,30 @@ func TestInitEphemeralBeads(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("mkdir: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	if err := manager.initEphemeralBeads(rigPath); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("initEphemeralBeads: %v", err)
+	if err := manager.initWispBeads(rigPath); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("initWispBeads: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	// Verify directory was created
-	ephemeralPath := filepath.Join(rigPath, ".beads-ephemeral")
-	if _, err := os.Stat(ephemeralPath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		t.Error(".beads-ephemeral/ was not created")
+	wispPath := filepath.Join(rigPath, ".beads-wisp")
+	if _, err := os.Stat(wispPath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		t.Error(".beads-wisp/ was not created")
 	}
 
 	// Verify it's a git repo
-	gitPath := filepath.Join(ephemeralPath, ".git")
+	gitPath := filepath.Join(wispPath, ".git")
 	if _, err := os.Stat(gitPath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		t.Error(".beads-ephemeral/ was not initialized as git repo")
+		t.Error(".beads-wisp/ was not initialized as git repo")
 	}
 
-	// Verify config.yaml was created with ephemeral: true
-	configPath := filepath.Join(ephemeralPath, "config.yaml")
+	// Verify config.yaml was created with wisp: true
+	configPath := filepath.Join(wispPath, "config.yaml")
 	content, err := os.ReadFile(configPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("reading config.yaml: %v", err)
 	}
-	if string(content) != "ephemeral: true\n# No sync-branch - ephemeral is local only\n" {
-		t.Errorf("config.yaml content = %q, want ephemeral: true with comment", string(content))
+	if string(content) != "wisp: true\n# No sync-branch - wisp is local only\n" {
+		t.Errorf("config.yaml content = %q, want wisp: true with comment", string(content))
 	}
 
 	// Verify .gitignore was updated
@@ -234,8 +234,8 @@ func TestInitEphemeralBeads(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("reading .gitignore: %v", err)
 	}
-	if string(ignoreContent) != ".beads-ephemeral/\n" {
-		t.Errorf(".gitignore content = %q, want .beads-ephemeral/", string(ignoreContent))
+	if string(ignoreContent) != ".beads-wisp/\n" {
+		t.Errorf(".gitignore content = %q, want .beads-wisp/", string(ignoreContent))
 	}
 }