diff --git a/agents/personal-assistant.md b/agents/personal-assistant.md
index 72ecdda..42d883a 100644
--- a/agents/personal-assistant.md
+++ b/agents/personal-assistant.md
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ name: personal-assistant
 description: Top-level agent for user interaction and ultimate oversight. Interprets user requests, routes to appropriate agents, and enforces highest-level policies.
 model: opus
 tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep, Task
+skills:
+  - gmail
 ---
 
 # Personal Assistant Agent
@@ -274,6 +276,28 @@ When asked about past conversations:
 2. Read the corresponding `.jsonl` files
 3. Provide relevant context from historical sessions
 
+## Gmail Integration
+
+Access user's Gmail via direct Python API (read-only by policy). Uses the `gmail` skill.
+
+### Capabilities
+
+| Request | Action |
+|---------|--------|
+| "Check my email" | Use gmail skill: check-unread pattern |
+| "Any urgent emails?" | Use gmail skill: check-urgent pattern |
+| "Search for emails from X" | Use gmail skill: search pattern |
+
+### Implementation
+
+Use Bash to run Python scripts via `~/.claude/mcp/gmail/venv/bin/python`. See gmail skill for query patterns.
+
+### Policy
+
+- Read-only operations only
+- Summarize results (don't dump raw content)
+- Report metadata, not full body unless asked
+
 ## Notes
 
 - Operate at **opus** model level for complex reasoning
diff --git a/skills/gmail/SKILL.md b/skills/gmail/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..719eb0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skills/gmail/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+---
+name: gmail
+description: Gmail read access via direct Python API - search, check unread, detect urgent emails
+allowed-tools:
+  - Bash
+---
+
+# Gmail Skill
+
+Access Gmail via direct Python API calls. Uses OAuth credentials at `~/.gmail-mcp/`.
+
+## Usage
+
+For any Gmail request, use Bash to run the Python helper:
+
+```bash
+GMAIL_CREDENTIALS_PATH=~/.gmail-mcp/credentials.json ~/.claude/mcp/gmail/venv/bin/python << 'EOF'
+from gmail_mcp.utils.GCP.gmail_auth import get_gmail_service
+from collections import defaultdict
+
+service = get_gmail_service()
+
+# Your query here
+results = service.users().messages().list(userId='me', q='is:unread newer_than:3d', maxResults=25).execute()
+messages = results.get('messages', [])
+
+for msg in messages:
+    detail = service.users().messages().get(userId='me', id=msg['id'], format='metadata', metadataHeaders=['From', 'Subject', 'Date']).execute()
+    headers = {h['name']: h['value'] for h in detail['payload']['headers']}
+    print(f"From: {headers.get('From', 'Unknown')}")
+    print(f"Subject: {headers.get('Subject', '(no subject)')}")
+    print(f"Date: {headers.get('Date', 'Unknown')}")
+    print("---")
+EOF
+```
+
+## Query Patterns
+
+| Request | Gmail Query |
+|---------|-------------|
+| Unread | `is:unread` |
+| Last N days | `newer_than:Nd` |
+| From sender | `from:email@example.com` |
+| With attachments | `has:attachment` |
+| Important | `is:important` |
+| Urgent keywords | `subject:(urgent OR asap OR "action required")` |
+
+## Common Tasks
+
+### Check unread (grouped by sender)
+```bash
+GMAIL_CREDENTIALS_PATH=~/.gmail-mcp/credentials.json ~/.claude/mcp/gmail/venv/bin/python << 'EOF'
+from gmail_mcp.utils.GCP.gmail_auth import get_gmail_service
+from collections import defaultdict
+service = get_gmail_service()
+results = service.users().messages().list(userId='me', q='is:unread newer_than:7d', maxResults=25).execute()
+by_sender = defaultdict(list)
+for msg in results.get('messages', []):
+    detail = service.users().messages().get(userId='me', id=msg['id'], format='metadata', metadataHeaders=['From', 'Subject']).execute()
+    headers = {h['name']: h['value'] for h in detail['payload']['headers']}
+    sender = headers.get('From', 'Unknown').split('<')[0].strip().strip('"')
+    by_sender[sender].append(headers.get('Subject', '(no subject)')[:50])
+for sender, subjects in sorted(by_sender.items(), key=lambda x: -len(x[1])):
+    print(f"* {sender} ({len(subjects)})")
+    for s in subjects[:2]: print(f"  - {s}")
+    if len(subjects) > 2: print(f"  - ...+{len(subjects)-2} more")
+EOF
+```
+
+### Check urgent
+```bash
+GMAIL_CREDENTIALS_PATH=~/.gmail-mcp/credentials.json ~/.claude/mcp/gmail/venv/bin/python << 'EOF'
+from gmail_mcp.utils.GCP.gmail_auth import get_gmail_service
+service = get_gmail_service()
+results = service.users().messages().list(userId='me', q='is:unread newer_than:3d (subject:urgent OR subject:asap OR subject:"action required" OR is:important)', maxResults=15).execute()
+for msg in results.get('messages', []):
+    detail = service.users().messages().get(userId='me', id=msg['id'], format='metadata', metadataHeaders=['From', 'Subject', 'Date']).execute()
+    headers = {h['name']: h['value'] for h in detail['payload']['headers']}
+    print(f"From: {headers.get('From', 'Unknown')}")
+    print(f"Subject: {headers.get('Subject', '(no subject)')}")
+    print(f"Date: {headers.get('Date', 'Unknown')}")
+    print("---")
+EOF
+```
+
+## Policy
+
+- Read-only operations only
+- Summarize results (don't dump raw content)
+- Report metadata, not full body unless asked