Bibliomantic MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol server that integrates I Ching divination with AI responses, exploring the bibliomantic approach described in Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle.
Purpose
This server demonstrates how traditional wisdom systems can be thoughtfully integrated with modern AI through MCP. It provides:
- Educational exploration of ancient Chinese philosophy and the I Ching
- Literary context from Philip K. Dick's influential science fiction work
- Philosophical reflection tools for creative thinking and perspective-taking
- Technical demonstration of FastMCP capabilities with tools, resources, and prompts
Features
- Traditional I Ching System: All 64 hexagrams with authentic three-coin method simulation
- Bibliomantic Consultation: Following Philip K. Dick's approach from "The Man in the High Castle"
- FastMCP Implementation: Professional MCP compliance with tools, resources, and prompts
- Ethical Safeguards: Clear disclaimers about entertainment/reflection purpose
- Educational Context: Historical and philosophical background for each consultation
- Resource Access: Direct hexagram database access for AI context loading
Prerequisites
- Python 3.10+ (required by MCP SDK)
- MCP-compatible host (Claude Desktop, etc.)
Installation
Using uvx (recommended)
uvx bibliomantic-mcp-server
Using pip
pip install bibliomantic-mcp-server
From source
git clone https://github.com/dshields/bibliomantic-mcp-server.git
cd bibliomantic-mcp-server
pip install -e .
Claude Desktop Configuration
Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"bibliomantic": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["bibliomantic-mcp-server"]
}
}
}
Alternative configurations:
{
"mcpServers": {
"bibliomantic": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["-m", "bibliomantic_server"]
}
}
}
i_ching_divination - Generate random hexagrams with traditional interpretationsbibliomantic_consultation - Full bibliomantic process with query augmentation get_hexagram_details - Look up specific hexagrams by number (1-64)server_statistics - View system information and capabilities
Resources
hexagram://{number} - Load individual hexagram data for AI contextiching://database - Access complete 64-hexagram database overview
Prompt Templates
career_guidance_prompt - Structured prompts for career decisionscreative_guidance_prompt - Prompts for artistic and creative projectsgeneral_guidance_prompt - Universal life guidance templates
Usage Examples
Basic Divination
Ask Claude:
"Can you perform an I Ching divination for philosophical guidance on my creative projects?"
Bibliomantic Consultation
"I'm facing a difficult decision about my career path. Can you consult the I Ching using the bibliomantic approach?"
Resource Access
"Load the hexagram://1 resource to understand The Creative."
Specific Hexagram Lookup
"Can you tell me about I Ching hexagram number 42?"
The Bibliomantic Approach
This implementation follows the divination method described in Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle, where characters consult the I Ching for guidance on important decisions. The system:
- Uses traditional I Ching methodology with three-coin tosses
- Generates cryptographically secure randomness for authentic divination
- Integrates ancient wisdom with modern AI capabilities
- Maintains the philosophical and reflective aspects of bibliomancy
- Provides transparency in the divination process
Ethical Framework
All responses include clear disclaimers that this is for philosophical reflection and entertainment only, not supernatural guidance or life advice. Users are directed to consult qualified professionals for important decisions.
The server emphasizes:
- Educational exploration of wisdom traditions
- Creative thinking and perspective-taking
- Philosophical reflection rather than prediction
- Respect for both ancient traditions and modern ethical standards
Development
Testing with MCP Inspector
mcp dev bibliomantic_server.py
Running locally
python bibliomantic_server.py
Technical Implementation
Built with:
- FastMCP - Official MCP Python SDK for professional compliance
- Traditional I Ching - Complete 64-hexagram database with authentic interpretations
- Cryptographic randomness - Secure three-coin simulation using Python's
secrets module - Type safety - Full type hints with automatic JSON schema generation
- Ethical safeguards - User-facing disclaimers in all responses
Use Cases
- Educational tool for learning about I Ching philosophy and Chinese wisdom traditions
- Creative writing aid for generating new perspectives and inspiration
- Philosophical reflection tool for contemplating life decisions and changes
- Cultural bridge between ancient wisdom and modern AI capabilities
- Technical demonstration of MCP server development with cultural content
- Literary analysis of Philip K. Dick's themes and bibliomantic concepts
Security Considerations
- Input validation for all user queries and parameters
- No external network requests or API dependencies
- Cryptographically secure randomness generation
- Clear ethical boundaries and user education
- No persistent data storage or user tracking
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please:
- Follow the existing code style and patterns
- Add tests for new functionality using MCP Inspector
- Update documentation for any changes
- Ensure compatibility with the official MCP SDK
- Maintain the ethical framework and educational focus
License
MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.
Acknowledgments
- Philip K. Dick for the literary inspiration and bibliomantic approach
- Ancient Chinese philosophers for the I Ching wisdom tradition
- Anthropic for the Model Context Protocol and FastMCP framework
- The MCP community for fostering innovative AI integrations
"The oracle was right. The future remains ahead." - Philip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle