diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/VoodooStitches.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/VoodooStitches.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7707eeed9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/VoodooStitches.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+import { useEffect, useState, useMemo } from "react";
+
+/**
+ * Purely decorative voodoo-doll stitch border around the entire viewport.
+ * Each X-shaped cross-stitch pulses in opacity with a sequential delay,
+ * creating a wave that flows around the perimeter like calm backlit water.
+ */
+
+const STITCH_SPACING = 30; // px between stitch centers
+const STITCH_SIZE = 6; // half-size of each X arm
+const EDGE_INSET = 6; // px inset from viewport edge
+const ANIMATION_DURATION = 6; // seconds for one full pulse cycle
+const STROKE_WIDTH = 1.5;
+
+interface Stitch {
+  cx: number;
+  cy: number;
+  index: number;
+}
+
+function generateStitches(w: number, h: number): { stitches: Stitch[]; total: number } {
+  const stitches: Stitch[] = [];
+  let index = 0;
+
+  // Top edge: left → right
+  const topCount = Math.max(0, Math.floor((w - EDGE_INSET * 2) / STITCH_SPACING));
+  const topOffset = (w - EDGE_INSET * 2 - (topCount - 1) * STITCH_SPACING) / 2;
+  for (let i = 0; i < topCount; i++) {
+    stitches.push({ cx: EDGE_INSET + topOffset + i * STITCH_SPACING, cy: EDGE_INSET, index: index++ });
+  }
+
+  // Right edge: top → bottom
+  const rightCount = Math.max(0, Math.floor((h - EDGE_INSET * 2) / STITCH_SPACING));
+  const rightOffset = (h - EDGE_INSET * 2 - (rightCount - 1) * STITCH_SPACING) / 2;
+  for (let i = 0; i < rightCount; i++) {
+    stitches.push({ cx: w - EDGE_INSET, cy: EDGE_INSET + rightOffset + i * STITCH_SPACING, index: index++ });
+  }
+
+  // Bottom edge: right → left
+  const bottomCount = topCount;
+  for (let i = 0; i < bottomCount; i++) {
+    stitches.push({
+      cx: EDGE_INSET + topOffset + (bottomCount - 1 - i) * STITCH_SPACING,
+      cy: h - EDGE_INSET,
+      index: index++,
+    });
+  }
+
+  // Left edge: bottom → top
+  const leftCount = rightCount;
+  for (let i = 0; i < leftCount; i++) {
+    stitches.push({
+      cx: EDGE_INSET,
+      cy: EDGE_INSET + rightOffset + (leftCount - 1 - i) * STITCH_SPACING,
+      index: index++,
+    });
+  }
+
+  return { stitches, total: index };
+}
+
+export function VoodooStitches() {
+  const [dimensions, setDimensions] = useState({ w: window.innerWidth, h: window.innerHeight });
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let raf: number | null = null;
+    const onResize = () => {
+      if (raf !== null) cancelAnimationFrame(raf);
+      raf = requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        setDimensions({ w: window.innerWidth, h: window.innerHeight });
+        raf = null;
+      });
+    };
+    window.addEventListener("resize", onResize);
+    return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener("resize", onResize);
+      if (raf !== null) cancelAnimationFrame(raf);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  const { stitches, total } = useMemo(
+    () => generateStitches(dimensions.w, dimensions.h),
+    [dimensions.w, dimensions.h],
+  );
+
+  // Wave spans the full perimeter — each stitch gets a delay proportional to its position
+  const delayPerStitch = total > 0 ? ANIMATION_DURATION / total : 0;
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      aria-hidden
+      style={{
+        position: "fixed",
+        inset: 0,
+        pointerEvents: "none",
+        zIndex: 9999,
+      }}
+    >
+      <svg
+        width={dimensions.w}
+        height={dimensions.h}
+        viewBox={`0 0 ${dimensions.w} ${dimensions.h}`}
+        fill="none"
+        xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+        style={{ display: "block" }}
+      >
+        {stitches.map((s) => (
+          <g
+            key={s.index}
+            style={{
+              animation: `voodoo-stitch-pulse ${ANIMATION_DURATION}s ease-in-out infinite`,
+              animationDelay: `${-ANIMATION_DURATION + s.index * delayPerStitch}s`,
+            }}
+          >
+            {/* First arm of the X: ╲ */}
+            <line
+              x1={s.cx - STITCH_SIZE}
+              y1={s.cy - STITCH_SIZE}
+              x2={s.cx + STITCH_SIZE}
+              y2={s.cy + STITCH_SIZE}
+              stroke="var(--muted-foreground)"
+              strokeWidth={STROKE_WIDTH}
+              strokeLinecap="round"
+            />
+            {/* Second arm of the X: ╱ */}
+            <line
+              x1={s.cx + STITCH_SIZE}
+              y1={s.cy - STITCH_SIZE}
+              x2={s.cx - STITCH_SIZE}
+              y2={s.cy + STITCH_SIZE}
+              stroke="var(--muted-foreground)"
+              strokeWidth={STROKE_WIDTH}
+              strokeLinecap="round"
+            />
+          </g>
+        ))}
+      </svg>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/web/src/index.css b/apps/web/src/index.css
index fa879be3f..ea6b744cc 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/index.css
+++ b/apps/web/src/index.css
@@ -636,6 +636,17 @@ label:has(> select#reasoning-effort) select {
   }
 }
 
+/* ─── Voodoo stitch border pulse ─── */
+@keyframes voodoo-stitch-pulse {
+  0%,
+  100% {
+    opacity: 0.15;
+  }
+  50% {
+    opacity: 0.55;
+  }
+}
+
 /* ─── Accessibility ─── */
 
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
diff --git a/apps/web/src/routes/__root.tsx b/apps/web/src/routes/__root.tsx
index 2cba25d85..3186c859d 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/routes/__root.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/routes/__root.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import { MobileConnectionBanner } from "../components/mobile/MobileConnectionBan
 import { MobilePairingScreen } from "../components/mobile/MobilePairingScreen";
 import { useMobilePairingState } from "../hooks/useMobilePairingState";
 import { I18nProvider } from "../i18n/I18nProvider";
+import { VoodooStitches } from "../components/VoodooStitches";
 
 export const Route = createRootRouteWithContext<{
   queryClient: QueryClient;
@@ -42,9 +43,12 @@ export const Route = createRootRouteWithContext<{
 
 function RootRouteView() {
   return (
-    <I18nProvider>
-      <RootRouteContent />
-    </I18nProvider>
+    <>
+      <VoodooStitches />
+      <I18nProvider>
+        <RootRouteContent />
+      </I18nProvider>
+    </>
   );
 }