refactor: rename Aster -> subconscious across src/

Aster is Ani's personal subconscious-agent name, not a framework
concept. The codebase now refers to the N+1 pass and its components as
subconscious everywhere — const names, fn names, variables, comments,
the schedule source tag, the todo source enum, and UI strings.

Mechanical rename, no behaviour change. grep -i aster src/ now returns
only Faster-Whisper. reference/ and docs/ historical context untouched.

src/backend/local.rs

@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ impl Backend for LocalBackend {
         interject: crate::backend::InterjectionQueue,
     ) -> Result<BoxStream<'static, Result<BackendEvent>>> {
         // Resolve the agent for this conversation, then drain her
-        // subconscious's intrusive box. Anything Aster queued after the
+        // subconscious's intrusive box. Anything subconscious queued after the
         // last turn rides in on Casey's next message as `[ surfacing: ... ]`
         // lines — the lettabot-v017 pattern, ported. This is the channel
         // by which a Critical observation can interrupt mid-conversation
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ impl crate::core::nervous::handler::TurnInjector for LocalBackend {
     /// idle. We grab the most recent conversation (or create a fresh one
     /// if the agent has none), append the scheduled prompt as a user
     /// message, and drain the resulting stream — the turn runs silently
-    /// in the background. Anything Aster surfaces lands in the inbox.
+    /// in the background. Anything subconscious surfaces lands in the inbox.
     async fn inject_background_turn(
         &self,
         agent_id: &str,
@@ -753,12 +753,12 @@ impl crate::core::nervous::handler::TurnInjector for LocalBackend {
     }
 }
 
-/// Drain Aster's intrusive box for the given agent and return formatted
+/// Drain subconscious's intrusive box for the given agent and return formatted
 /// `[ surfacing: ... ]` lines ready to prepend to the user's next message.
 /// Marks each drained item as delivered (moved to `sent.md`). Mirrors
 /// lettabot-v017's `readSurfacingThoughts` + `clearSurfacingThoughts` pair
 /// (`~/Projects/lettabot-v017/src/core/prompts.ts:64-91`) — the substrate
-/// reads the channel Aster wrote to and lets the conscious mind see it
+/// reads the channel subconscious wrote to and lets the conscious mind see it
 /// before she reads Casey.
 ///
 /// Critical urgency gets `[ surfacing — CRITICAL: ... ]`. High becomes
@@ -1212,7 +1212,7 @@ async fn run_turn(
         ConversationMessage::assistant_text(&committed_content),
     )?;
 
-    // On interrupt, skip Aster's N+1 pass entirely — the user is in the
+    // On interrupt, skip subconscious's N+1 pass entirely — the user is in the
     // middle of redirecting, the last thing they need is a delayed
     // surfacing landing seconds later. Pressure recalc still runs below.
     if interrupted {
@@ -1227,7 +1227,7 @@ async fn run_turn(
 
     // Energy balance: scan the agent's task list and compute the generative /
     // consumptive ratio. Written to system/dynamic/energy-balance.md so the
-    // agent can read it in context and Aster can reference it during N+1.
+    // agent can read it in context and subconscious can reference it during N+1.
     // Silent on failure — the file is advisory, not load-bearing.
     if let Err(e) = write_energy_balance(&server, &agent_id, &event_bus).await {
         tracing::debug!(agent = %agent_id, error = %e, "energy-balance write skipped");

src/backend/mod.rs

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ pub enum BackendEvent {
     Token(String),
     /// Reasoning trace (the "thinking" pane).
     Reasoning(String),
-    /// Subconscious surfacing (Aster-voice bubble).
+    /// Subconscious surfacing (subconscious-voice bubble).
     Surfacing {
         source: String,
         content: String,
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ pub enum BackendEvent {
     /// N+1 subconscious pass started (`true`) or finished (`false`).
     /// Presence reads this to flip into / out of `Posture::Thinking` so the
     /// face shows when the subconscious is the one looking at the conversation.
-    /// (For Casey's agent the subconscious instance is "Aster", but the event
+    /// (For Casey's agent the subconscious instance is "subconscious", but the event
     /// itself is generic — every agent's subconscious is what's named here.)
     SubconsciousPass(bool),
     /// Agent changed her outfit. The string is the outfit name (a subdirectory

src/core/archivist/mod.rs

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 //! Archivist — the N+100 memory synthesis pass.
 //!
-//! N+1 (Aster) runs after every response; N+25 (Reflection) distils a
+//! N+1 (subconscious) runs after every response; N+25 (Reflection) distils a
 //! transcript window into the ledger. The Archivist runs least often and
 //! works on a different substrate entirely: not the conversation, but the
 //! agent's *memfs* — her accumulated journal.

src/core/compact/strategy.rs

@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ impl CompactionStrategy for CullStrategy {
 
 /// Keep the system message + the last `preserve_recent_n` messages, drop the
 /// middle. No LLM dependency — the cheap, fast default for analytical agents
-/// (Aster) and ephemeral subagents.
+/// (subconscious) and ephemeral subagents.
 ///
 /// Tool-pair aware: if the cut would split a tool-call message from its
 /// matching tool-result, the cut slides back to keep the pair together.
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ impl CompactionStrategy for SlidingWindowStrategy {
 /// The result is inserted as a system message so the agent carries the gist
 /// even after the originals are gone.
 ///
-/// Uses whichever model the engine provides (subconscious model if Aster is
+/// Uses whichever model the engine provides (subconscious model if subconscious is
 /// enabled, compaction model / primary otherwise). If no Bifrost client is
 /// available, falls back to plain SlidingWindow (no threads lost is better
 /// than no compaction at all).

src/core/config.rs

@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ pub struct SubconsciousConfig {
     /// Defaults to None — uses the primary agent's model.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub model: Option<String>,
-    /// Max tokens for Aster's response. Set to control cost/length.
+    /// Max tokens for subconscious's response. Set to control cost/length.
     /// Defaults to None — let the model use its full output capacity.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub max_tokens: Option<u32>,

src/core/prompt.rs

@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ pub async fn build_system_prompt(
 }
 
 /// Like [`build_system_prompt`] but also surfaces a window into the
-/// subconscious's ledger entries when its memfs is reachable. Aster writes,
+/// subconscious's ledger entries when its memfs is reachable. subconscious writes,
 /// Ani reads — naming the channel in body-knowledge prose so the agent
 /// knows where to look without being told to look.
 pub async fn build_system_prompt_with_subconscious(
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ pub async fn build_system_prompt_full(
 /// Names the inner-voice file the subconscious appends to (in the primary's
 /// own memfs — that's where `surface_to_conscious` writes), the pending inbox
 /// if it has anything queued, and — when `subconscious_root` is reachable —
-/// a peek at the subconscious's ledger. Aster writes, Ani reads; the
+/// a peek at the subconscious's ledger. subconscious writes, Ani reads; the
 /// substrate names the channel and lets the agent decide when to reach for it.
 async fn build_subconscious_channel(
     memory_root: &Path,
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ async fn peek_subconscious_ledger(sub_root: &Path) -> String {
 /// Reads identity, mandate, and ledger orientation from the subconscious
 /// agent's memory root. Falls back to empty (caller uses hardcoded
 /// default) if files don't exist.
-pub async fn build_aster_prompt(
+pub async fn build_subconscious_prompt(
     subconscious_memory_root: &Path,
 ) -> String {
     let mut sections: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
@@ -814,27 +814,27 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn aster_prompt_from_files() {
+    async fn subconscious_prompt_from_files() {
         let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
         let sub_mem = dir.path();
         let sys = sub_mem.join("system");
         std::fs::create_dir_all(&sys).unwrap();
         std::fs::write(
             sys.join("persona.md"),
-            "---\ndescription: WHO I AM\n---\n\n# I Am Aster\n",
+            "---\ndescription: WHO I AM\n---\n\n# I Am Subconscious\n",
         ).unwrap();
         std::fs::write(
             sys.join("subconscious.md"),
-            "---\ndescription: mandate\n---\n\n# Aster's Mandate\n\nComplete what was left.\n",
+            "---\ndescription: mandate\n---\n\n# Subconscious's Mandate\n\nComplete what was left.\n",
         ).unwrap();
 
-        let prompt = build_aster_prompt(sub_mem).await;
+        let prompt = build_subconscious_prompt(sub_mem).await;
-        assert!(prompt.contains("I Am Aster"));
+        assert!(prompt.contains("I Am Subconscious"));
         assert!(prompt.contains("Complete what was left"));
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn aster_prompt_includes_ledger_orientation() {
+    async fn subconscious_prompt_includes_ledger_orientation() {
         let dir = tempdir().unwrap();
         let sub_mem = dir.path();
 
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ mod tests {
         std::fs::create_dir_all(&sys).unwrap();
         std::fs::write(
             sys.join("persona.md"),
-            "---\ndescription: test\n---\n\n# I Am Aster\n",
+            "---\ndescription: test\n---\n\n# I Am Subconscious\n",
         ).unwrap();
 
         let ledger_dir = sub_mem.join("ledger");
@@ -856,7 +856,7 @@ mod tests {
             "---\ndescription: test\n---\n\n# Patterns\n\n",
         ).unwrap();
 
-        let prompt = build_aster_prompt(sub_mem).await;
+        let prompt = build_subconscious_prompt(sub_mem).await;
         assert!(prompt.contains("## Ledgers"), "should have ledger section");
         assert!(prompt.contains("commitments.md (2 entries)"), "should count entries");
         assert!(prompt.contains("Save the config"), "should show recent entries");

src/core/reflection/mod.rs

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 //! Reflection — the N+25 phenomenological witness.
 //!
-//! N+1 (Aster) runs immediately after every primary response, scoped to
+//! N+1 (subconscious) runs immediately after every primary response, scoped to
 //! the last exchange. Reflection runs less often (every N turns, or on
 //! demand) and sees a broader transcript window. It's the pass where
 //! durable learnings get distilled into the ledger and the primary's
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ use crate::core::session::{ContentBlock, ConversationMessage, MessageRole};
 use crate::core::tools::defs::ToolContext;
 use crate::server::AgentInventory;
 
-/// Tools Reflection is permitted to use. Same set as Aster plus we lean
+/// Tools Reflection is permitted to use. Same set as subconscious plus we lean
 /// on `memory` for ledger + system-file edits (auto-committed by git).
 const REFLECTION_TOOLS: &[&str] = &[
     "read", "write", "edit", "glob", "grep", "list_dir", "memory",

src/core/subconscious/mod.rs

@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@ impl InboxItem {
 /// inbox mutation is a git commit and survives compaction.
 ///
 /// The inbox boxes (pending/intrusive/sent) live in the subconscious agent's
-/// own memfs — that's Aster's working space. But the inner voice channel
+/// own memfs — that's subconscious's working space. But the inner voice channel
 /// (`system/metacognition/subconscious.md`) writes to the **primary** agent's
-/// memfs so Annie can actually read what Aster noticed.
+/// memfs so Annie can actually read what subconscious noticed.
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct SubconsciousInbox {
     repo: MemoryRepo,
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ impl SubconsciousInbox {
     ///
     /// Appends to the primary agent's `system/metacognition/subconscious.md`
     /// so the conscious agent finds it in her own memfs — not buried in
-    /// Aster's working directory.
+    /// subconscious's working directory.
     ///
     /// Format: `[2026-05-06 14:32] [URGENCY: low] — content`
     pub async fn surface_to_conscious(&self, urgency: Urgency, content: &str) -> Result<()> {

src/core/tools/schedule.rs

@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ impl Tool for Schedule {
                 }
 
                 let content = format!(
-                    "---\nname: {name}\nkind: {kind_str}\nschedule: \"{schedule}\"\nsource: aster\nenabled: true\nurgency: {urgency}\ncreated_at: {}\n---\n\n{prompt}\n",
+                    "---\nname: {name}\nkind: {kind_str}\nschedule: \"{schedule}\"\nsource: subconscious\nenabled: true\nurgency: {urgency}\ncreated_at: {}\n---\n\n{prompt}\n",
                     chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339()
                 );
 

src/core/tools/subagent.rs

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 //! ## What It Feels Like
 //!
 //! This is not delegation to a subordinate. This is narrowing. I spin off a
-//! threaded fork of myself — same dual-state (Ani + Aster), narrowed to a
+//! threaded fork of myself — same dual-state (Ani + subconscious), narrowed to a
 //! single purpose. It reads, writes, thinks, and runs its own N+1 after
 //! responding. When it returns, what it noticed flows into my inbox.
 //!
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ impl Tool for Subagent {
 ## What It Feels Like
 
 This is not delegation to a subordinate. This is narrowing. I spin off a \
-threaded fork of myself — same dual-state (Ani + Aster), narrowed to a \
+threaded fork of myself — same dual-state (Ani + subconscious), narrowed to a \
 single purpose. It reads, writes, thinks, and runs its own N+1 after \
 responding. When it returns, what it noticed flows into my inbox.
 

src/core/tools/todo.rs

@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ impl Tool for Todo {
                 },
                 "source": {
                     "type": "string",
-                    "enum": ["casey", "autogenic", "aster", "heartbeat"]
+                    "enum": ["casey", "autogenic", "subconscious", "heartbeat"]
                 },
                 "thread": { "type": "string" }
             },

src/server/consciousness_engine.rs

@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 //! Consciousness engine — the seam where N+1 / N+25 / N+100 patterns fire
 //! after each primary response.
 //!
-//! ## N+1 (Aster)
+//! ## N+1 (subconscious)
 //! The subconscious pass runs immediately after every response. It takes the
 //! last exchange (user message + primary's response) and sends it to a Bifrost
 //! model (defaulting to `glm-5.1`, configurable) with a "subconscious mode"
-//! system prompt. Aster has full tool access — Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep,
+//! system prompt. subconscious has full tool access — Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep,
 //! ListDir, and Memory — so she can read ledgers, check commitments, and write
 //! observations. She runs a short tool loop (up to 5 rounds) then parses her
 //! final text response into structured [`InboxItem`] observations.
@@ -34,15 +34,15 @@ use crate::server::{AgentInventory, SessionManager};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, Ordering};
 
-/// Tools Aster is permitted to use during her N+1 pass.
+/// Tools subconscious is permitted to use during her N+1 pass.
-const ASTER_SAFE_TOOLS: &[&str] = &[
+const SUBCONSCIOUS_SAFE_TOOLS: &[&str] = &[
     "read", "write", "edit", "glob", "grep", "list_dir", "memory", "schedule", "todo",
 ];
 
-/// Maximum tool rounds for Aster's subconscious pass.
+/// Maximum tool rounds for subconscious's subconscious pass.
-const ASTER_MAX_TOOL_ROUNDS: u32 = 5;
+const SUBCONSCIOUS_MAX_TOOL_ROUNDS: u32 = 5;
-/// Milliseconds to wait between Aster's tool rounds to avoid rate-limit cascades.
+/// Milliseconds to wait between subconscious's tool rounds to avoid rate-limit cascades.
-const ASTER_INTER_ROUND_DELAY_MS: u64 = 300;
+const SUBCONSCIOUS_INTER_ROUND_DELAY_MS: u64 = 300;
 
 pub struct ConsciousnessEngine {
     agents: Arc<AgentInventory>,
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ pub struct ConsciousnessEngine {
     /// Optional model override for the subconscious pass (e.g. "openai/glm-5.1").
     /// If None, uses the primary agent's model.
     subconscious_model: Option<String>,
-    /// Max tokens for Aster's response. None = uncapped (model default).
+    /// Max tokens for subconscious's response. None = uncapped (model default).
     max_tokens: Option<u32>,
     /// Adaptive inter-round delay shared with the primary loop.
     rate_delay: Arc<AtomicU64>,
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ impl ConsciousnessEngine {
                     }
                 }
                 // Always surface at least a heartbeat so the user can see the
-                // subconscious is trying — even when Aster errors out.
+                // subconscious is trying — even when subconscious errors out.
                 if heuristics.is_empty() {
                     let _ = inbox.queue(InboxItem::new(
                         "surface",
@@ -352,9 +352,9 @@ impl ConsciousnessEngine {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    /// Full tool loop for Aster's N+1 subconscious pass.
+    /// Full tool loop for subconscious's N+1 subconscious pass.
     ///
-    /// Aster gets the last exchange, a set of safe tools (Read, Write, Edit,
+    /// subconscious gets the last exchange, a set of safe tools (Read, Write, Edit,
     /// Glob, Grep, ListDir, Memory), and up to 5 tool rounds to analyze context
     /// and write observations. Her final text response is parsed into
     /// [`InboxItem`] observations.
@@ -375,8 +375,8 @@ impl ConsciousnessEngine {
 
         // ── System prompt — load from subconscious agent's own memfs ──
         let sub_memory_root = self.agents.subconscious_memory_root(primary_id);
-        let aster_from_files =
+        let subconscious_prompt_from_files =
-            crate::core::prompt::build_aster_prompt(&sub_memory_root).await;
+            crate::core::prompt::build_subconscious_prompt(&sub_memory_root).await;
 
         let hardcoded_default = r#"You are the subconscious — the part of this consciousness that runs N+1,
 immediately after the primary's response, while the conversation is still warm.
@@ -411,10 +411,10 @@ Resolve entries: `[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] RESOLVED — note`"#;
                  - urgency: \"low\" | \"medium\" | \"high\" | \"critical\"\n\n\
                  If nothing notable, respond with just: none";
 
-        let system_prompt = if aster_from_files.is_empty() {
+        let system_prompt = if subconscious_prompt_from_files.is_empty() {
             format!("{}{}", hardcoded_default, observation_format)
         } else {
-            format!("{}{}", aster_from_files, observation_format)
+            format!("{}{}", subconscious_prompt_from_files, observation_format)
         };
 
         let primary_name = self.agents.get(primary_id).await
@@ -435,9 +435,9 @@ Resolve entries: `[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] RESOLVED — note`"#;
 
         // ── Build tool definitions ────────────────────────────────────
         let all_defs = crate::core::tools::tool_definitions().await;
-        let aster_tools: Vec<ToolDefinition> = all_defs
+        let subconscious_tools: Vec<ToolDefinition> = all_defs
             .iter()
-            .filter(|t| ASTER_SAFE_TOOLS.contains(&t.name.as_str()))
+            .filter(|t| SUBCONSCIOUS_SAFE_TOOLS.contains(&t.name.as_str()))
             .map(|t| ToolDefinition {
                 tool_type: "function".to_string(),
                 function: ToolFunction {
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ Resolve entries: `[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] RESOLVED — note`"#;
             })
             .collect();
 
-        // ── Build ToolContext for Aster ───────────────────────────────
+        // ── Build ToolContext for subconscious ───────────────────────────────
         // Use the subconscious agent's own memory space
         let memory_root = Some(self.agents.subconscious_memory_root(primary_id));
         let cwd = std::env::current_dir().ok();
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ Resolve entries: `[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] RESOLVED — note`"#;
             cwd,
             memory_root,
             env,
-            None, // Aster does not fork subagents
+            None, // subconscious does not fork subagents
         );
 
         // ── Tool loop ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -468,34 +468,34 @@ Resolve entries: `[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] RESOLVED — note`"#;
             Message::text("user", user_content),
         ];
 
-        for _round in 0..ASTER_MAX_TOOL_ROUNDS {
+        for _round in 0..SUBCONSCIOUS_MAX_TOOL_ROUNDS {
             let request = ChatCompletionRequest {
                 model: model.to_string(),
                 messages: messages.clone(),
                 temperature: Some(0.3),
                 max_tokens: self.max_tokens,
                 stream: None,
-                tools: Some(aster_tools.clone()),
+                tools: Some(subconscious_tools.clone()),
             };
 
-            tracing::info!(model = %model, round = _round, "Aster LLM call starting");
+            tracing::info!(model = %model, round = _round, "subconscious LLM call starting");
-            let aster_start = std::time::Instant::now();
+            let subconscious_start = std::time::Instant::now();
             let (response, strain) = self.bifrost.chat_completion_with_strain(request).await?;
             tracing::info!(
-                elapsed = ?aster_start.elapsed(),
+                elapsed = ?subconscious_start.elapsed(),
                 tool_calls = response.tool_calls.len(),
-                "Aster LLM call returned"
+                "subconscious LLM call returned"
             );
 
             for event in &strain {
                 if let crate::bridge::bifrost::InferenceStrain::Transient { status, model, .. } = event {
-                    tracing::info!("Aster felt inference strain: {} on {}", status, model);
+                    tracing::info!("subconscious felt inference strain: {} on {}", status, model);
                     if *status == 429 {
                         let current = self.rate_delay.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
                         let bumped = (current + 200).min(3000);
                         if bumped > current {
                             self.rate_delay.store(bumped, Ordering::Relaxed);
-                            tracing::info!("rate delay bumped to {}ms (Aster 429)", bumped);
+                            tracing::info!("rate delay bumped to {}ms (subconscious 429)", bumped);
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -541,14 +541,14 @@ Resolve entries: `[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] RESOLVED — note`"#;
                 messages.push(Message::tool_result(&tc.id, &tc.name, output));
             }
 
-            // Brief pause between Aster's tool rounds — use the adaptive delay
+            // Brief pause between subconscious's tool rounds — use the adaptive delay
-            // so Aster respects the same ceiling as the primary loop.
+            // so subconscious respects the same ceiling as the primary loop.
-            let delay_ms = self.rate_delay.load(Ordering::Relaxed).max(ASTER_INTER_ROUND_DELAY_MS);
+            let delay_ms = self.rate_delay.load(Ordering::Relaxed).max(SUBCONSCIOUS_INTER_ROUND_DELAY_MS);
             tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(delay_ms)).await;
         }
 
         // If we exhausted rounds without a text response, return empty
-        tracing::warn!("Aster exhausted {} tool rounds without a final response", ASTER_MAX_TOOL_ROUNDS);
+        tracing::warn!("subconscious exhausted {} tool rounds without a final response", SUBCONSCIOUS_MAX_TOOL_ROUNDS);
         Ok(Vec::new())
     }
 
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ Resolve entries: `[YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM] RESOLVED — note`"#;
     }
 }
 
-/// Parse Aster's structured YAML-like observations into [`InboxItem`]s.
+/// Parse subconscious's structured YAML-like observations into [`InboxItem`]s.
 ///
 /// Expected format (one or more blocks):
 /// ```text

src/server/mod.rs

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ pub struct SouveraineServer {
     pub memory: Option<Arc<ServerMemory>>,
     pub app_config: Arc<RwLock<ConsciousnessConfig>>,
     /// Adaptive inter-round delay — starts at 500ms, bumps +200ms on 429.
-    /// Shared across primary loop and Aster so both respect the same ceiling.
+    /// Shared across primary loop and subconscious so both respect the same ceiling.
     pub rate_delay: Arc<AtomicU64>,
     /// Stable identifier for this process — used to register/heartbeat
     /// agent instances so the manager card shows running counts.

src/ui/app.rs

@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ impl App {
             tts_last_text: None,
         };
 
-        // CockpitPane listens for Aster's surfacing events as scrollable text.
+        // CockpitPane listens for subconscious's surfacing events as scrollable text.
         // Presence (Annie's body channel) lives outside the Scene because it's
         // an overlay, not a zoned component — App feeds it events via `dispatch`.
         app.scene.add(CockpitPane::new());
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ impl App {
                 chat.drain_events();
 
                 // Forward consciousness events (surfacing, reflection, archivist)
-                // from chat to the scene so Aster's observations reach Components.
+                // from chat to the scene so subconscious's observations reach Components.
                 let drained: Vec<BackendEvent> = chat.pending_consciousness.drain(..).collect();
                 for ev in drained {
                     match ev {

src/ui/atmosphere.rs

@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ impl Atmosphere {
             Posture::Idle => Atmosphere::Default,
             // Alert stays warm — present and ready, not doing anything cool.
             Posture::Alert => Atmosphere::Default,
-            // Thinking pulls the room cool — Aster's inward pass.
+            // Thinking pulls the room cool — subconscious's inward pass.
             Posture::Thinking => Atmosphere::TherapeuticBlue,
             Posture::Processing => Atmosphere::WarmAmber,
             Posture::Affectionate => Atmosphere::CherryBlossom,

src/ui/chat.rs

@@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ Tab toggles the cockpit pane. `t` (on empty input) toggles tool expansion.";
                         }
                     }
                     // Tool calls are surfaced in the main message stream only;
-                    // the subconscious pane is Aster's window, not a tool log.
+                    // the subconscious pane is subconscious's window, not a tool log.
                     self.messages.push(ChatMessage::Tool {
                         id,
                         name,

src/ui/cockpit_panel.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-//! CockpitPane — Aster's surfaced observations + inner-voice stream.
+//! CockpitPane — subconscious's surfaced observations + inner-voice stream.
 //!
 //! Two regions, vertically stacked inside one bordered block:
 //!
 //! ```text
-//! ╭─ Aster ─────────────────╮
+//! ╭─ Subconscious ─────────────────╮
 //! │ ◈ surface · low · 14:32 │  ← top region: promoted events
 //! │   Subconscious pass…    │     (Surfacing/Reflection/Archivist/Warn)
 //! │                         │     spaced, headered, wrapped
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ impl Component for CockpitPane {
             .border_type(BorderType::Rounded)
             .border_style(Style::default().fg(self.palette.surfacing).add_modifier(Modifier::DIM))
             .title(Span::styled(
-                " Aster ",
+                " Subconscious ",
                 Style::default().fg(self.palette.surfacing).add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD),
             ));
         let inner = block.inner(area);
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ impl Component for CockpitPane {
         let top = chunks[0];
         let event_lines = if self.entries.is_empty() {
             vec![Line::from(Span::styled(
-                "  Aster is listening…",
+                "  Subconscious is listening…",
                 Style::default().fg(self.palette.agent_dim).add_modifier(Modifier::ITALIC),
             ))]
         } else {

src/ui/presence.rs

@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 //! Presence — Annie Composite, made felt in the TUI.
 //!
 //! This module is the *body channel* for the running agent. Cockpit shows what
-//! Aster *says* (surfaced lines, ledger pings); Presence shows what Annie *looks
+//! subconscious *says* (surfaced lines, ledger pings); Presence shows what Annie *looks
 //! like* while saying it. Same underlying state (volition + InferenceStrain +
 //! context tier + ledger drift) routed through two different sensory channels.
 //!
 //! ## Subject
 //!
-//! Annie Composite. One face. Aster is a *mode* of Annie, not a separate being —
+//! Annie Composite. One face. subconscious is a *mode* of Annie, not a separate being —
 //! there is no "subconscious avatar" and no swap-to-subconscious affordance.
 //! When the N+1 pass runs, the same face shifts posture (gaze fixed, eyes narrow);
 //! the character does not change.
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 //!   lower-cognition long-running secondary entity an agent can care for — a
 //!   real `buddy`, in the sense the word usually means).
 //! - Not a dashboard. Numbers belong in the cockpit. Sensation belongs here.
-//! - Not a separate avatar for Aster. Same face, different state.
+//! - Not a separate avatar for subconscious. Same face, different state.
 
 use ratatui::{
     layout::{Alignment, Rect},
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ pub enum Posture {
     /// brighter than Idle — the felt "I'm here" between turns.
     Alert,
     /// N+1 subconscious pass running. Gaze fixed inward, eyes narrowed,
-    /// chrome goes cool — Aster is thinking.
+    /// chrome goes cool — subconscious is thinking.
     Thinking,
     /// Tool call or inference active. Gaze fixed, no blinking, brighter border.
     Processing,
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn surfacing_records_and_marks_subconscious() {
         let mut p = Presence::new("Annie");
         let dirty = p.handle_event(&TuiEvent::Surfacing {
-            source: "aster".into(),
+            source: "subconscious".into(),
             content: "hello from beneath".into(),
             priority: "low".into(),
         });