diff --git a/src/agent/oneshot.rs b/src/agent/oneshot.rs
index b2dc6e4..24117bc 100644
--- a/src/agent/oneshot.rs
+++ b/src/agent/oneshot.rs
@@ -149,6 +149,16 @@ impl AutoAgent {
         self.run_with_backend(&mut backend, bail_fn).await
     }
 
+    /// Run using a pre-created agent Arc. The caller retains the Arc
+    /// so the UI can lock it to read entries live.
+    pub async fn run_shared(
+        &mut self,
+        agent: &std::sync::Arc<Agent>,
+    ) -> Result<String, String> {
+        let mut backend = Backend(agent.clone());
+        self.run_with_backend(&mut backend, None).await
+    }
+
     /// Run forked using a shared agent Arc. The UI can lock the same
     /// Arc to read entries live during the run.
     pub async fn run_forked_shared(
diff --git a/src/mind/mod.rs b/src/mind/mod.rs
index 49be124..8426ef1 100644
--- a/src/mind/mod.rs
+++ b/src/mind/mod.rs
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ impl Mind {
                 if unc_handle.as_ref().map_or(true, |h| h.is_finished()) {
                     let unc = self.unconscious.clone();
                     unc_handle = Some(tokio::spawn(async move {
-                        unc.lock().await.trigger();
+                        unc.lock().await.trigger().await;
                     }));
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/mind/unconscious.rs b/src/mind/unconscious.rs
index 1799100..15f8419 100644
--- a/src/mind/unconscious.rs
+++ b/src/mind/unconscious.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
+use futures::FutureExt;
 
 use crate::agent::oneshot::{AutoAgent, AutoStep};
 use crate::agent::tools;
@@ -35,7 +36,10 @@ fn save_enabled_config(map: &HashMap<String, bool>) {
 struct UnconsciousAgent {
     name: String,
     enabled: bool,
+    auto: AutoAgent,
     handle: Option<tokio::task::JoinHandle<(AutoAgent, Result<String, String>)>>,
+    /// Shared agent handle — UI locks to read context live.
+    pub agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<crate::agent::Agent>>,
     last_run: Option<Instant>,
     runs: usize,
 }
@@ -62,6 +66,7 @@ pub struct UnconsciousSnapshot {
     pub enabled: bool,
     pub runs: usize,
     pub last_run_secs_ago: Option<f64>,
+    pub agent: Option<std::sync::Arc<crate::agent::Agent>>,
 }
 
 pub struct Unconscious {
@@ -77,15 +82,34 @@ impl Unconscious {
 
         // Scan all .agent files, exclude subconscious-* and surface-observe
         let mut agents: Vec<UnconsciousAgent> = Vec::new();
+        let all_tools = tools::memory::memory_tools().to_vec();
         for def in defs::load_defs() {
             if def.agent.starts_with("subconscious-") { continue; }
             if def.agent == "surface-observe" { continue; }
             let enabled = enabled_map.get(&def.agent).copied()
-                .unwrap_or(false); // new agents default to off
+                .unwrap_or(false);
+            let effective_tools: Vec<tools::Tool> = if def.tools.is_empty() {
+                all_tools.clone()
+            } else {
+                all_tools.iter()
+                    .filter(|t| def.tools.iter().any(|w| w == t.name))
+                    .cloned()
+                    .collect()
+            };
+            let steps: Vec<AutoStep> = def.steps.iter().map(|s| AutoStep {
+                prompt: s.prompt.clone(),
+                phase: s.phase.clone(),
+            }).collect();
+            let auto = AutoAgent::new(
+                def.agent.clone(), effective_tools, steps,
+                def.temperature.unwrap_or(0.6), def.priority,
+            );
             agents.push(UnconsciousAgent {
                 name: def.agent.clone(),
                 enabled,
+                auto,
                 handle: None,
+                agent: None,
                 last_run: None,
                 runs: 0,
             });
@@ -103,13 +127,13 @@ impl Unconscious {
 
     /// Toggle an agent on/off by name. Returns new enabled state.
     /// If enabling, immediately spawns the agent if it's not running.
-    pub fn toggle(&mut self, name: &str) -> Option<bool> {
+    pub async fn toggle(&mut self, name: &str) -> Option<bool> {
         let idx = self.agents.iter().position(|a| a.name == name)?;
         self.agents[idx].enabled = !self.agents[idx].enabled;
         let new_state = self.agents[idx].enabled;
         self.save_enabled();
         if new_state && !self.agents[idx].is_running() {
-            self.spawn_agent(idx);
+            self.spawn_agent(idx).await;
         }
         Some(new_state)
     }
@@ -128,6 +152,7 @@ impl Unconscious {
             enabled: a.enabled,
             runs: a.runs,
             last_run_secs_ago: a.last_run.map(|t| t.elapsed().as_secs_f64()),
+            agent: a.agent.clone(),
         }).collect()
     }
 
@@ -141,7 +166,7 @@ impl Unconscious {
     }
 
     /// Reap finished agents and spawn new ones.
-    pub fn trigger(&mut self) {
+    pub async fn trigger(&mut self) {
         // Periodic graph health refresh
         if self.last_health_check
             .map(|t| t.elapsed() > Duration::from_secs(600))
@@ -152,11 +177,21 @@ impl Unconscious {
 
         for agent in &mut self.agents {
             if agent.handle.as_ref().is_some_and(|h| h.is_finished()) {
+                let handle = agent.handle.take().unwrap();
                 agent.last_run = Some(Instant::now());
                 agent.runs += 1;
-                dbglog!("[unconscious] {} completed (run {})",
-                    agent.name, agent.runs);
-                agent.handle = None;
+                // Get the AutoAgent back from the finished task
+                match handle.now_or_never() {
+                    Some(Ok((auto_back, result))) => {
+                        agent.auto = auto_back;
+                        match result {
+                            Ok(_) => dbglog!("[unconscious] {} completed (run {})",
+                                agent.name, agent.runs),
+                            Err(e) => dbglog!("[unconscious] {} failed: {}", agent.name, e),
+                        }
+                    }
+                    _ => dbglog!("[unconscious] {} task lost", agent.name),
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -171,11 +206,11 @@ impl Unconscious {
             .collect();
 
         for idx in ready {
-            self.spawn_agent(idx);
+            self.spawn_agent(idx).await;
         }
     }
 
-    fn spawn_agent(&mut self, idx: usize) {
+    async fn spawn_agent(&mut self, idx: usize) {
         let name = self.agents[idx].name.clone();
         dbglog!("[unconscious] spawning {}", name);
 
@@ -184,15 +219,7 @@ impl Unconscious {
             None => return,
         };
 
-        let all_tools = tools::memory_and_journal_tools();
-        let effective_tools: Vec<tools::Tool> = if def.tools.is_empty() {
-            all_tools
-        } else {
-            all_tools.into_iter()
-                .filter(|t| def.tools.iter().any(|w| w == t.name))
-                .collect()
-        };
-
+        // Run query and resolve placeholders
         let mut store = match crate::store::Store::load() {
             Ok(s) => s,
             Err(e) => {
@@ -216,19 +243,64 @@ impl Unconscious {
             store.record_agent_visits(&batch.node_keys, &name).ok();
         }
 
-        let steps: Vec<AutoStep> = batch.steps.iter().map(|s| AutoStep {
-            prompt: s.prompt.clone(),
-            phase: s.phase.clone(),
-        }).collect();
+        // Swap auto out, replace steps with resolved prompts
+        let mut auto = std::mem::replace(&mut self.agents[idx].auto,
+            AutoAgent::new(String::new(), vec![], vec![], 0.0, 0));
+        let orig_steps = std::mem::replace(&mut auto.steps,
+            batch.steps.iter().map(|s| AutoStep {
+                prompt: s.prompt.clone(),
+                phase: s.phase.clone(),
+            }).collect());
 
-        let mut auto = AutoAgent::new(
-            name, effective_tools, steps,
-            def.temperature.unwrap_or(0.6),
-            def.priority,
-        );
+        // Create standalone Agent — stored so UI can read context
+        let config = crate::config::get();
+        let base_url = config.api_base_url.as_deref().unwrap_or("");
+        let api_key = config.api_key.as_deref().unwrap_or("");
+        let model = config.api_model.as_deref().unwrap_or("");
+        if base_url.is_empty() || model.is_empty() {
+            dbglog!("[unconscious] API not configured");
+            auto.steps = orig_steps;
+            self.agents[idx].auto = auto;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        let cli = crate::user::CliArgs::default();
+        let (app, _) = match crate::config::load_app(&cli) {
+            Ok(r) => r,
+            Err(e) => {
+                dbglog!("[unconscious] config: {}", e);
+                auto.steps = orig_steps;
+                self.agents[idx].auto = auto;
+                return;
+            }
+        };
+        let (system_prompt, personality) = match crate::config::reload_for_model(&app, &app.prompts.other) {
+            Ok(r) => r,
+            Err(e) => {
+                dbglog!("[unconscious] config: {}", e);
+                auto.steps = orig_steps;
+                self.agents[idx].auto = auto;
+                return;
+            }
+        };
+
+        let client = crate::agent::api::ApiClient::new(base_url, api_key, model);
+        let agent = crate::agent::Agent::new(
+            client, system_prompt, personality,
+            app, String::new(), None,
+            crate::agent::tools::ActiveTools::new(),
+        ).await;
+        {
+            let mut st = agent.state.lock().await;
+            st.provenance = format!("unconscious:{}", auto.name);
+            st.tools = auto.tools.clone();
+        }
+
+        self.agents[idx].agent = Some(agent.clone());
 
         self.agents[idx].handle = Some(tokio::spawn(async move {
-            let result = auto.run(None).await;
+            let result = auto.run_shared(&agent).await;
+            auto.steps = orig_steps;
             (auto, result)
         }));
     }
diff --git a/src/user/mod.rs b/src/user/mod.rs
index 04a690a..288e922 100644
--- a/src/user/mod.rs
+++ b/src/user/mod.rs
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ async fn run(
                 let mut unc = mind.unconscious.lock().await;
                 for name in &toggles {
                     if sub.toggle(name).is_none() {
-                        unc.toggle(name);
+                        unc.toggle(name).await;
                     }
                 }
             }