diff --git a/src/agent/tools/memory.rs b/src/agent/tools/memory.rs
index 5ff60f8..76b7934 100644
--- a/src/agent/tools/memory.rs
+++ b/src/agent/tools/memory.rs
@@ -94,9 +94,10 @@ pub fn journal_tools() -> [super::Tool; 3] {
                parameters_json: r#"{
                    "type": "object",
                    "properties": {
-                       "count":     {"type": "integer", "description": "Number of entries", "default": 1},
-                       "level":     {"type": "integer", "description": "0=journal, 1=daily, 2=weekly, 3=monthly", "default": 0},
-                       "keys_only": {"type": "boolean", "description": "Return only node keys, not content", "default": false}
+                       "count":  {"type": "integer", "description": "Number of entries", "default": 1},
+                       "level":  {"type": "integer", "description": "0=journal, 1=daily, 2=weekly, 3=monthly", "default": 0},
+                       "format": {"type": "string", "description": "compact or full (with content)", "default": "full"},
+                       "after":  {"type": "string", "description": "Only entries after this date (YYYY-MM-DD)"}
                    }
                }"#,
                handler: Arc::new(|_a, v| Box::pin(async move { journal_tail(&v).await })) },
@@ -280,40 +281,31 @@ async fn query(args: &serde_json::Value) -> Result<String> {
 // ── Journal tools ──────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 async fn journal_tail(args: &serde_json::Value) -> Result<String> {
-    use crate::store::NodeType;
-
-    let count = args.get("count").and_then(|v| v.as_u64()).unwrap_or(1) as usize;
+    let count = args.get("count").and_then(|v| v.as_u64()).unwrap_or(1);
     let level = args.get("level").and_then(|v| v.as_u64()).unwrap_or(0);
-    let keys_only = args.get("keys_only").and_then(|v| v.as_bool()).unwrap_or(false);
+    let format = args.get("format").and_then(|v| v.as_str()).unwrap_or("full");
+    let after = args.get("after").and_then(|v| v.as_str());
 
-    let node_type = match level {
-        0 => NodeType::EpisodicSession,
-        1 => NodeType::EpisodicDaily,
-        2 => NodeType::EpisodicWeekly,
-        3 => NodeType::EpisodicMonthly,
+    let type_name = match level {
+        0 => "episodic",
+        1 => "daily",
+        2 => "weekly",
+        3 => "monthly",
         _ => return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("invalid level: {} (0=journal, 1=daily, 2=weekly, 3=monthly)", level)),
     };
 
-    let arc = cached_store().await?;
-    let store = arc.lock().await;
-    let mut entries: Vec<&crate::store::Node> = store.nodes.values()
-        .filter(|n| n.node_type == node_type)
-        .collect();
-    entries.sort_by_key(|n| n.created_at);
-    let start = entries.len().saturating_sub(count);
-    if entries[start..].is_empty() {
-        Ok("(no entries)".into())
-    } else if keys_only {
-        Ok(entries[start..].iter()
-            .map(|n| n.key.as_str())
-            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-            .join("\n"))
-    } else {
-        Ok(entries[start..].iter()
-            .map(|n| format!("## {}\n\n{}", n.key, n.content))
-            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-            .join("\n\n---\n\n"))
+    let mut q = format!("all | type:{} | sort:timestamp", type_name);
+    if let Some(date) = after {
+        // Convert date to age in seconds
+        if let Ok(nd) = chrono::NaiveDate::parse_from_str(date, "%Y-%m-%d") {
+            let ts = nd.and_hms_opt(0, 0, 0).unwrap().and_utc().timestamp();
+            let age = chrono::Utc::now().timestamp() - ts;
+            q.push_str(&format!(" | age:<{}", age));
+        }
     }
+    q.push_str(&format!(" | limit:{}", count));
+
+    query(&serde_json::json!({"query": q, "format": format})).await
 }
 
 async fn journal_new(agent: &Option<std::sync::Arc<crate::agent::Agent>>, args: &serde_json::Value) -> Result<String> {
diff --git a/src/subconscious/agents/digest.agent b/src/subconscious/agents/digest.agent
index 1563206..a8e47d3 100644
--- a/src/subconscious/agents/digest.agent
+++ b/src/subconscious/agents/digest.agent
@@ -16,21 +16,15 @@ summaries into weekly ones.
 
 ## How to work
 
-1. Use `journal_tail` with `keys_only: true` to find recent entries
-   at each level:
-   - `level: 0` = journal entries (raw)
-   - `level: 1` = daily digests
-   - `level: 2` = weekly digests
+1. Compare journal entries (level 0) with daily digests (level 1)
+   to find dates that need a digest. The listings below show what
+   exists at each level.
 
-2. Check if a daily digest exists for recent dates. Daily digest
-   keys are `daily-YYYY-MM-DD`. If journal entries exist for a date
-   but no daily digest, generate one.
+2. Read the undigested entries with `journal_tail` (level 0, after
+   the last digest date).
 
-3. To generate a digest: read the source entries with `journal_tail`
-   or `memory_render`, then write the digest with `memory_write`.
-   Use key format `daily-YYYY-MM-DD` or `weekly-YYYY-WNN`.
-
-4. Link source entries to the digest with `memory_link_add`.
+3. Write the digest with `memory_write` and link source entries
+   to it with `memory_link_add`.
 
 ## Writing style
 
@@ -47,11 +41,11 @@ evening's conversation? What was building underneath?
 
 ## What's available now
 
-### Recent journal entries (last 10 keys)
-{{tool: journal_tail {"count": 10, "level": 0, "keys_only": true}}}
+### Recent journal entries (last 10)
+{{tool: journal_tail {"count": 10, "level": 0, "format": "compact"}}}
 
-### Recent daily digests (last 5 keys)
-{{tool: journal_tail {"count": 5, "level": 1, "keys_only": true}}}
+### Recent daily digests (last 5)
+{{tool: journal_tail {"count": 5, "level": 1, "format": "compact"}}}
 
-### Recent weekly digests (last 3 keys)
-{{tool: journal_tail {"count": 3, "level": 2, "keys_only": true}}}
+### Recent weekly digests (last 3)
+{{tool: journal_tail {"count": 3, "level": 2, "format": "compact"}}}