diff --git a/apps/chat/routes.py b/apps/chat/routes.py
index 5b14f008e..8953c9eda 100644
--- a/apps/chat/routes.py
+++ b/apps/chat/routes.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def _check_provider_api_key(provider: str) -> str | None:
 
 def generate_chat_title(message: str) -> str:
     """Generate a short title for a chat message using configured provider."""
-    from think.muse import load_prompt
+    from think.prompts import load_prompt
 
     prompt = load_prompt("title", base_dir=Path(__file__).parent)
     try:
diff --git a/docs/PROMPT_TEMPLATES.md b/docs/PROMPT_TEMPLATES.md
index 7cda5231b..7aafe19aa 100644
--- a/docs/PROMPT_TEMPLATES.md
+++ b/docs/PROMPT_TEMPLATES.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ This document describes solstone's template variable system for personalizing pr
 
 ## Overview
 
-Prompts are stored as `.md` files with optional JSON frontmatter for metadata. The prompt content is loaded via `load_prompt()` from `think/muse.py`, which uses Python's `string.Template` with `safe_substitute`. This means:
+Prompts are stored as `.md` files with optional JSON frontmatter for metadata. The prompt content is loaded via `load_prompt()` from `think/prompts.py`, which uses Python's `string.Template` with `safe_substitute`. This means:
 
 - Variables use `$name` or `${name}` syntax
 - Undefined variables are left as-is (no errors)
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ The flattening logic converts nested objects using underscore separators. For ex
 
 **References:**
 - Identity configuration: [JOURNAL.md](JOURNAL.md) (identity section)
-- Flattening implementation: `think/muse.py` → `_flatten_identity_to_template_vars()`
+- Flattening implementation: `think/prompts.py` → `_flatten_identity_to_template_vars()`
 
 ### Template Variables
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ load_prompt(
 
 Returns a `PromptContent` named tuple with `text` (substituted content), `path` (source file), and `metadata` (frontmatter dict).
 
-**Reference:** `think/muse.py` → `load_prompt()`
+**Reference:** `think/prompts.py` → `load_prompt()`
 
 ## Adding New Variables
 
@@ -184,9 +184,9 @@ load_prompt("myprompt", context={"custom_var": "value"})
 | Category | Authoritative Source |
 |----------|---------------------|
 | Identity config schema | [JOURNAL.md](JOURNAL.md) (identity section) |
-| Identity flattening | `think/muse.py` (`_flatten_identity_to_template_vars`) |
-| Template loading | `think/muse.py` (`_load_templates`) |
-| Core load function | `think/muse.py` (`load_prompt`) |
+| Identity flattening | `think/prompts.py` (`_flatten_identity_to_template_vars`) |
+| Template loading | `think/prompts.py` (`_load_templates`) |
+| Core load function | `think/prompts.py` (`load_prompt`) |
 | Template files | `think/templates/*.md` |
 | Test coverage | `tests/test_template_substitution.py` |
 | Generator prompts | `muse/*.md` (files with `schedule` field but no `tools`) |
diff --git a/muse/anticipation.py b/muse/anticipation.py
index 3053ff773..3fa74b195 100644
--- a/muse/anticipation.py
+++ b/muse/anticipation.py
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ from think.hooks import (
     write_events_jsonl,
 )
 from think.models import generate
-from think.muse import get_output_topic, load_prompt
+from think.muse import get_output_topic
+from think.prompts import load_prompt
 
 
 def post_process(result: str, context: dict) -> str | None:
diff --git a/muse/occurrence.py b/muse/occurrence.py
index 045b28767..cf422c919 100644
--- a/muse/occurrence.py
+++ b/muse/occurrence.py
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ from think.hooks import (
     write_events_jsonl,
 )
 from think.models import generate
-from think.muse import get_output_topic, load_prompt
+from think.muse import get_output_topic
+from think.prompts import load_prompt
 
 
 def post_process(result: str, context: dict) -> str | None:
diff --git a/observe/describe.py b/observe/describe.py
index a6e39c97b..135bc5749 100644
--- a/observe/describe.py
+++ b/observe/describe.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ from observe.aruco import detect_markers, mask_convey_region, polygon_area
 from observe.extract import DEFAULT_MAX_EXTRACTIONS, select_frames_for_extraction
 from observe.utils import get_segment_key
 from think.callosum import callosum_send
-from think.muse import load_prompt
+from think.prompts import load_prompt
 from think.utils import get_config, get_journal, setup_cli
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
diff --git a/observe/enrich.py b/observe/enrich.py
index ea03f82fb..720d5d8b2 100644
--- a/observe/enrich.py
+++ b/observe/enrich.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from google.genai import types
 
 from observe.utils import audio_to_flac_bytes
 from think.models import generate
-from think.muse import load_prompt
+from think.prompts import load_prompt
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/observe/extract.py b/observe/extract.py
index b9551853c..ffd27a2d6 100644
--- a/observe/extract.py
+++ b/observe/extract.py
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ def _ai_select_frames(
         If AI selection fails (will trigger fallback in caller).
     """
     from think.models import generate
-    from think.muse import load_prompt
+    from think.prompts import load_prompt
 
     # Build extraction guidance with config overrides
     extraction_guidance = _build_extraction_guidance(categories, config_overrides)
diff --git a/observe/transcribe/gemini.py b/observe/transcribe/gemini.py
index 1be9299af..1c1096d65 100644
--- a/observe/transcribe/gemini.py
+++ b/observe/transcribe/gemini.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from google.genai import types
 
 from observe.utils import audio_to_flac_bytes
 from think.models import generate
-from think.muse import load_prompt
+from think.prompts import load_prompt
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_muse.py b/tests/test_muse.py
index cead75a85..2cadf7bb4 100644
--- a/tests/test_muse.py
+++ b/tests/test_muse.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ from think.muse import (
     source_is_required,
 )
 
-
 # =============================================================================
 # _merge_instructions_config tests
 # =============================================================================
@@ -80,17 +79,13 @@ class TestComposeInstructions:
         think_dir = tmp_path / "think"
         think_dir.mkdir()
 
-        import think.muse
+        import think.prompts
 
-        original_file = think.muse.__file__
-        monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", str(think_dir / "muse.py"))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(think.prompts, "__file__", str(think_dir / "prompts.py"))
         monkeypatch.setenv("JOURNAL_PATH", str(tmp_path))
 
         result = compose_instructions()
 
-        # Restore
-        monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", original_file)
-
         assert "system_instruction" in result
         assert result["system_instruction"] == ""
         assert result["system_prompt_name"] == ""
@@ -102,9 +97,9 @@ class TestComposeInstructions:
         custom_txt = think_dir / "custom.md"
         custom_txt.write_text("Custom system instruction")
 
-        import think.muse
+        import think.prompts
 
-        monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", str(think_dir / "muse.py"))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(think.prompts, "__file__", str(think_dir / "prompts.py"))
         monkeypatch.setenv("JOURNAL_PATH", str(tmp_path))
 
         result = compose_instructions(
@@ -124,7 +119,11 @@ class TestComposeInstructions:
         user_txt.write_text("User instruction content")
 
         import think.muse
+        import think.prompts
 
+        # Monkeypatch both modules since compose_instructions uses muse.__file__ for
+        # default user_prompt_dir, and load_prompt uses prompts.__file__ for defaults
+        monkeypatch.setattr(think.prompts, "__file__", str(think_dir / "prompts.py"))
         monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", str(think_dir / "muse.py"))
         monkeypatch.setenv("JOURNAL_PATH", str(tmp_path))
 
@@ -139,9 +138,9 @@ class TestComposeInstructions:
         journal_txt = think_dir / "journal.md"
         journal_txt.write_text("System instruction")
 
-        import think.muse
+        import think.prompts
 
-        monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", str(think_dir / "muse.py"))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(think.prompts, "__file__", str(think_dir / "prompts.py"))
         monkeypatch.setenv("JOURNAL_PATH", str(tmp_path))
 
         result = compose_instructions()
@@ -155,9 +154,9 @@ class TestComposeInstructions:
         journal_txt = think_dir / "journal.md"
         journal_txt.write_text("System instruction")
 
-        import think.muse
+        import think.prompts
 
-        monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", str(think_dir / "muse.py"))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(think.prompts, "__file__", str(think_dir / "prompts.py"))
         monkeypatch.setenv("JOURNAL_PATH", str(tmp_path))
 
         result = compose_instructions(
@@ -175,9 +174,9 @@ class TestComposeInstructions:
         journal_txt = think_dir / "journal.md"
         journal_txt.write_text("System instruction")
 
-        import think.muse
+        import think.prompts
 
-        monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", str(think_dir / "muse.py"))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(think.prompts, "__file__", str(think_dir / "prompts.py"))
         monkeypatch.setenv("JOURNAL_PATH", str(tmp_path))
 
         result = compose_instructions(
@@ -195,9 +194,9 @@ class TestComposeInstructions:
         journal_txt = think_dir / "journal.md"
         journal_txt.write_text("System instruction")
 
-        import think.muse
+        import think.prompts
 
-        monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", str(think_dir / "muse.py"))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(think.prompts, "__file__", str(think_dir / "prompts.py"))
         monkeypatch.setenv("JOURNAL_PATH", str(tmp_path))
 
         result = compose_instructions(
@@ -212,9 +211,9 @@ class TestComposeInstructions:
         think_dir = tmp_path / "think"
         think_dir.mkdir()
 
-        import think.muse
+        import think.prompts
 
-        monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", str(think_dir / "muse.py"))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(think.prompts, "__file__", str(think_dir / "prompts.py"))
         monkeypatch.setenv("JOURNAL_PATH", str(tmp_path))
 
         result = compose_instructions()
@@ -229,9 +228,9 @@ class TestComposeInstructions:
         think_dir = tmp_path / "think"
         think_dir.mkdir()
 
-        import think.muse
+        import think.prompts
 
-        monkeypatch.setattr(think.muse, "__file__", str(think_dir / "muse.py"))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(think.prompts, "__file__", str(think_dir / "prompts.py"))
         monkeypatch.setenv("JOURNAL_PATH", str(tmp_path))
 
         result = compose_instructions(
diff --git a/tests/test_template_substitution.py b/tests/test_template_substitution.py
index 97038a02c..79c4236bc 100644
--- a/tests/test_template_substitution.py
+++ b/tests/test_template_substitution.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import os
 
 import pytest
 
-from think.muse import _flatten_identity_to_template_vars, load_prompt
+from think.prompts import _flatten_identity_to_template_vars, load_prompt
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
diff --git a/think/detect_created.py b/think/detect_created.py
index a1f271527..571358b7a 100644
--- a/think/detect_created.py
+++ b/think/detect_created.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional
 
-from .muse import load_prompt
+from .prompts import load_prompt
 
 
 def _load_system_prompt() -> str:
diff --git a/think/detect_transcript.py b/think/detect_transcript.py
index c4d74d70e..ac0a5b011 100644
--- a/think/detect_transcript.py
+++ b/think/detect_transcript.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List, Optional
 
-from .muse import load_prompt
+from .prompts import load_prompt
 
 
 def _load_json_prompt() -> str:
diff --git a/think/muse.py b/think/muse.py
index d1fdfddbc..67c325e4f 100644
--- a/think/muse.py
+++ b/think/muse.py
@@ -1,312 +1,38 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 # Copyright (c) 2026 sol pbc
 
-"""Muse prompt loading and configuration utilities.
+"""Muse agent and generator orchestration utilities.
 
-This module provides all functionality for loading, parsing, and configuring
-muse prompts (agents and generators) from muse/*.md and apps/*/muse/*.md.
+This module provides functionality for configuring and orchestrating muse agents
+and generators from muse/*.md and apps/*/muse/*.md.
 
 Key functions:
-- load_prompt(): Load and parse .md prompt files with template substitution
 - get_muse_configs(): Discover all muse configs with filtering
 - get_agent(): Load complete agent configuration by name
 - compose_instructions(): Build system/user prompts from instruction config
 - Hook loading: load_pre_hook(), load_post_hook()
+
+For simple prompt loading without orchestration (observe/, think/*.md prompts),
+use think.prompts.load_prompt() directly.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import importlib.util
-import logging
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
-from string import Template
-from typing import Any, Callable, NamedTuple
+from typing import Any, Callable
 
 import frontmatter
 
+# Import core prompt utilities from think.prompts
+from think.prompts import _load_prompt_metadata, load_prompt
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Constants
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 MUSE_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "muse"
-TEMPLATES_DIR = Path(__file__).parent / "templates"
-
-# Cached raw template content loaded from think/templates/*.md
-_templates_cache: dict[str, str] | None = None
-
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Template Loading
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-def _load_raw_templates() -> dict[str, str]:
-    """Load raw template files from think/templates/ directory.
-
-    Templates are cached on first load. Each .md file becomes a template
-    variable named after its stem (e.g., daily_preamble.md -> $daily_preamble).
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    dict[str, str]
-        Mapping of template variable names to their raw content (no substitution).
-    """
-    global _templates_cache
-    if _templates_cache is not None:
-        return _templates_cache
-
-    _templates_cache = {}
-    if TEMPLATES_DIR.is_dir():
-        for md_path in TEMPLATES_DIR.glob("*.md"):
-            var_name = md_path.stem
-            try:
-                post = frontmatter.load(
-                    md_path,
-                )
-                _templates_cache[var_name] = post.content.strip()
-            except Exception as exc:
-                logging.debug("Failed to load template %s: %s", md_path, exc)
-
-    return _templates_cache
-
-
-def _load_templates(template_vars: dict[str, str] | None = None) -> dict[str, str]:
-    """Load and substitute template files from think/templates/ directory.
-
-    Raw templates are cached, but substitution is performed on each call
-    to support context-dependent variables like $date and $segment_start.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    template_vars:
-        Optional variables to substitute into templates. Templates can use
-        identity vars ($name, $preferred), context vars ($day, $date,
-        $segment_start, $segment_end), and other template vars.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    dict[str, str]
-        Mapping of template variable names to their substituted content.
-    """
-    raw_templates = _load_raw_templates()
-
-    if not template_vars:
-        return dict(raw_templates)
-
-    # Substitute variables into each template
-    substituted = {}
-    for var_name, content in raw_templates.items():
-        try:
-            template = Template(content)
-            substituted[var_name] = template.safe_substitute(template_vars)
-        except Exception as exc:
-            logging.debug("Template substitution failed for %s: %s", var_name, exc)
-            substituted[var_name] = content
-
-    return substituted
-
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Prompt Loading
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-class PromptContent(NamedTuple):
-    """Container for prompt text, metadata, and its resolved path."""
-
-    text: str
-    path: Path
-    metadata: dict[str, Any] = {}
-
-
-class PromptNotFoundError(FileNotFoundError):
-    """Raised when a prompt file cannot be located."""
-
-    def __init__(self, path: Path) -> None:
-        self.path = path
-        super().__init__(f"Prompt file not found: {path}")
-
-
-def _flatten_identity_to_template_vars(identity: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, str]:
-    """Flatten identity config into template variables with uppercase-first versions.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    identity:
-        Identity configuration dictionary from get_config()['identity'].
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    dict[str, str]
-        Template variables including flattened nested objects and uppercase-first versions.
-        For example:
-        - 'name' → identity['name']
-        - 'pronouns_possessive' → identity['pronouns']['possessive']
-        - 'Pronouns_possessive' → identity['pronouns']['possessive'].capitalize()
-        - 'bio' → identity['bio']
-    """
-    template_vars: dict[str, str] = {}
-
-    # Flatten top-level and nested values
-    for key, value in identity.items():
-        if isinstance(value, dict):
-            # Flatten nested dictionaries with underscore separator
-            for subkey, subvalue in value.items():
-                var_name = f"{key}_{subkey}"
-                template_vars[var_name] = str(subvalue)
-                # Create uppercase-first version
-                template_vars[var_name.capitalize()] = str(subvalue).capitalize()
-        elif isinstance(value, (str, int, float, bool)):
-            # Top-level scalar values
-            template_vars[key] = str(value)
-            # Create uppercase-first version
-            template_vars[key.capitalize()] = str(value).capitalize()
-
-    return template_vars
-
-
-def load_prompt(
-    name: str,
-    base_dir: str | Path | None = None,
-    *,
-    include_journal: bool = False,
-    context: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
-) -> PromptContent:
-    """Return the text contents, metadata, and path for a ``.md`` prompt file.
-
-    Prompt files use JSON frontmatter for metadata. Supports Python
-    string.Template variable substitution using:
-    - Identity config from get_config()['identity']:
-      - Top-level fields: $name, $preferred, $bio, $timezone
-      - Nested fields with underscores: $pronouns_possessive, $pronouns_subject
-      - Uppercase-first versions: $Pronouns_possessive, $Name, $Bio
-    - Templates from think/templates/*.md:
-      - Each file becomes a variable named after its stem
-      - Example: daily_preamble.md -> $daily_preamble
-      - Templates are pre-processed with identity and context vars, so templates
-        can use $date, $preferred, etc. before being substituted into prompts
-
-    Callers can provide additional context variables via the ``context`` parameter.
-    Context variables override identity and template variables if there's a collision.
-    Uppercase-first versions are automatically created for context variables.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    name:
-        Base filename of the prompt without the ``.md`` suffix. If the suffix is
-        included, it will not be duplicated.
-    base_dir:
-        Optional directory containing the prompt file. Defaults to the directory
-        of this module when not provided.
-    include_journal:
-        If True, prepends the content of ``think/journal.md`` to the requested
-        prompt. Defaults to False. Context variables are passed through to the
-        journal template as well.
-    context:
-        Optional dictionary of additional template variables. Values are converted
-        to strings. For each key, an uppercase-first version is also created
-        (e.g., ``{"day": "20250110"}`` adds both ``$day`` and ``$Day``).
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    PromptContent
-        The prompt text (with surrounding whitespace removed and template variables
-        substituted), the resolved path to the ``.md`` file, and metadata from
-        the JSON frontmatter.
-    """
-    from think.utils import get_config
-
-    if not name:
-        raise ValueError("Prompt name must be provided")
-
-    if name.endswith(".md"):
-        filename = name
-    else:
-        filename = f"{name}.md"
-
-    prompt_dir = Path(base_dir) if base_dir is not None else Path(__file__).parent
-    prompt_path = prompt_dir / filename
-    try:
-        post = frontmatter.load(
-            prompt_path,
-        )
-        text = post.content.strip()
-        metadata = dict(post.metadata)
-    except FileNotFoundError as exc:  # pragma: no cover - caller handles missing prompt
-        raise PromptNotFoundError(prompt_path) from exc
-
-    # Perform template substitution
-    try:
-        config = get_config()
-        identity = config.get("identity", {})
-        template_vars = _flatten_identity_to_template_vars(identity)
-
-        # Merge caller-provided context (overrides identity vars if collision)
-        if context:
-            for key, value in context.items():
-                str_value = str(value)
-                template_vars[key] = str_value
-                # Add uppercase-first version
-                template_vars[key.capitalize()] = str_value.capitalize()
-
-        # Load templates with identity and context vars so templates can use them
-        templates = _load_templates(template_vars)
-        template_vars.update(templates)
-
-        # Use safe_substitute to avoid errors for undefined variables
-        template = Template(text)
-        text = template.safe_substitute(template_vars)
-    except Exception as exc:
-        # Log but don't fail - return original text if substitution fails
-        logging.debug("Template substitution failed for %s: %s", prompt_path, exc)
-
-    # Prepend journal content if requested
-    if include_journal and name != "journal":
-        journal_content = load_prompt("journal", context=context)
-        text = f"{journal_content.text}\n\n{text}"
-
-    return PromptContent(text=text, path=prompt_path, metadata=metadata)
-
-
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Prompt Metadata Loading
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-def _load_prompt_metadata(md_path: Path) -> dict[str, object]:
-    """Load prompt metadata from .md file with JSON frontmatter.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    md_path:
-        Path to the .md prompt file with JSON frontmatter.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    dict
-        Metadata dict with path, mtime, color, and frontmatter fields.
-    """
-    mtime = int(md_path.stat().st_mtime)
-    info: dict[str, object] = {
-        "path": str(md_path),
-        "mtime": mtime,
-    }
-
-    try:
-        post = frontmatter.load(
-            md_path,
-        )
-        if post.metadata:
-            info.update(post.metadata)
-    except Exception as exc:  # pragma: no cover - metadata optional
-        logging.debug("Error reading frontmatter from %s: %s", md_path, exc)
-
-    # Apply default color if not specified
-    if "color" not in info:
-        info["color"] = "#6c757d"
-
-    return info
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/think/planner.py b/think/planner.py
index 523327b5e..f17535d83 100644
--- a/think/planner.py
+++ b/think/planner.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import os
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from .muse import load_prompt
+from .prompts import load_prompt
 from .utils import setup_cli
 
 
diff --git a/think/prompts.py b/think/prompts.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..93b23a97a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/think/prompts.py
@@ -0,0 +1,306 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+# Copyright (c) 2026 sol pbc
+
+"""Core prompt loading utilities.
+
+This module provides the foundational prompt loading functionality used by both
+standalone prompts (observe/, think/*.md) and the full muse agent orchestration.
+
+Key functions:
+- load_prompt(): Load and parse .md prompt files with template substitution
+- PromptContent: Named tuple for prompt text, path, and metadata
+
+For full agent/generator orchestration (scheduling, hooks, instruction composition),
+use think.muse instead.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from pathlib import Path
+from string import Template
+from typing import Any, NamedTuple
+
+import frontmatter
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Constants
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+TEMPLATES_DIR = Path(__file__).parent / "templates"
+
+# Cached raw template content loaded from think/templates/*.md
+_templates_cache: dict[str, str] | None = None
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Template Loading
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _load_raw_templates() -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Load raw template files from think/templates/ directory.
+
+    Templates are cached on first load. Each .md file becomes a template
+    variable named after its stem (e.g., daily_preamble.md -> $daily_preamble).
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict[str, str]
+        Mapping of template variable names to their raw content (no substitution).
+    """
+    global _templates_cache
+    if _templates_cache is not None:
+        return _templates_cache
+
+    _templates_cache = {}
+    if TEMPLATES_DIR.is_dir():
+        for md_path in TEMPLATES_DIR.glob("*.md"):
+            var_name = md_path.stem
+            try:
+                post = frontmatter.load(
+                    md_path,
+                )
+                _templates_cache[var_name] = post.content.strip()
+            except Exception as exc:
+                logging.debug("Failed to load template %s: %s", md_path, exc)
+
+    return _templates_cache
+
+
+def _load_templates(template_vars: dict[str, str] | None = None) -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Load and substitute template files from think/templates/ directory.
+
+    Raw templates are cached, but substitution is performed on each call
+    to support context-dependent variables like $date and $segment_start.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    template_vars:
+        Optional variables to substitute into templates. Templates can use
+        identity vars ($name, $preferred), context vars ($day, $date,
+        $segment_start, $segment_end), and other template vars.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict[str, str]
+        Mapping of template variable names to their substituted content.
+    """
+    raw_templates = _load_raw_templates()
+
+    if not template_vars:
+        return dict(raw_templates)
+
+    # Substitute variables into each template
+    substituted = {}
+    for var_name, content in raw_templates.items():
+        try:
+            template = Template(content)
+            substituted[var_name] = template.safe_substitute(template_vars)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logging.debug("Template substitution failed for %s: %s", var_name, exc)
+            substituted[var_name] = content
+
+    return substituted
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Prompt Loading
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+class PromptContent(NamedTuple):
+    """Container for prompt text, metadata, and its resolved path."""
+
+    text: str
+    path: Path
+    metadata: dict[str, Any] = {}
+
+
+class PromptNotFoundError(FileNotFoundError):
+    """Raised when a prompt file cannot be located."""
+
+    def __init__(self, path: Path) -> None:
+        self.path = path
+        super().__init__(f"Prompt file not found: {path}")
+
+
+def _flatten_identity_to_template_vars(identity: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, str]:
+    """Flatten identity config into template variables with uppercase-first versions.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    identity:
+        Identity configuration dictionary from get_config()['identity'].
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict[str, str]
+        Template variables including flattened nested objects and uppercase-first versions.
+        For example:
+        - 'name' → identity['name']
+        - 'pronouns_possessive' → identity['pronouns']['possessive']
+        - 'Pronouns_possessive' → identity['pronouns']['possessive'].capitalize()
+        - 'bio' → identity['bio']
+    """
+    template_vars: dict[str, str] = {}
+
+    # Flatten top-level and nested values
+    for key, value in identity.items():
+        if isinstance(value, dict):
+            # Flatten nested dictionaries with underscore separator
+            for subkey, subvalue in value.items():
+                var_name = f"{key}_{subkey}"
+                template_vars[var_name] = str(subvalue)
+                # Create uppercase-first version
+                template_vars[var_name.capitalize()] = str(subvalue).capitalize()
+        elif isinstance(value, (str, int, float, bool)):
+            # Top-level scalar values
+            template_vars[key] = str(value)
+            # Create uppercase-first version
+            template_vars[key.capitalize()] = str(value).capitalize()
+
+    return template_vars
+
+
+def load_prompt(
+    name: str,
+    base_dir: str | Path | None = None,
+    *,
+    include_journal: bool = False,
+    context: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
+) -> PromptContent:
+    """Return the text contents, metadata, and path for a ``.md`` prompt file.
+
+    Prompt files use JSON frontmatter for metadata. Supports Python
+    string.Template variable substitution using:
+    - Identity config from get_config()['identity']:
+      - Top-level fields: $name, $preferred, $bio, $timezone
+      - Nested fields with underscores: $pronouns_possessive, $pronouns_subject
+      - Uppercase-first versions: $Pronouns_possessive, $Name, $Bio
+    - Templates from think/templates/*.md:
+      - Each file becomes a variable named after its stem
+      - Example: daily_preamble.md -> $daily_preamble
+      - Templates are pre-processed with identity and context vars, so templates
+        can use $date, $preferred, etc. before being substituted into prompts
+
+    Callers can provide additional context variables via the ``context`` parameter.
+    Context variables override identity and template variables if there's a collision.
+    Uppercase-first versions are automatically created for context variables.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    name:
+        Base filename of the prompt without the ``.md`` suffix. If the suffix is
+        included, it will not be duplicated.
+    base_dir:
+        Optional directory containing the prompt file. Defaults to the directory
+        of this module when not provided.
+    include_journal:
+        If True, prepends the content of ``think/journal.md`` to the requested
+        prompt. Defaults to False. Context variables are passed through to the
+        journal template as well.
+    context:
+        Optional dictionary of additional template variables. Values are converted
+        to strings. For each key, an uppercase-first version is also created
+        (e.g., ``{"day": "20250110"}`` adds both ``$day`` and ``$Day``).
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    PromptContent
+        The prompt text (with surrounding whitespace removed and template variables
+        substituted), the resolved path to the ``.md`` file, and metadata from
+        the JSON frontmatter.
+    """
+    from think.utils import get_config
+
+    if not name:
+        raise ValueError("Prompt name must be provided")
+
+    if name.endswith(".md"):
+        filename = name
+    else:
+        filename = f"{name}.md"
+
+    prompt_dir = Path(base_dir) if base_dir is not None else Path(__file__).parent
+    prompt_path = prompt_dir / filename
+    try:
+        post = frontmatter.load(
+            prompt_path,
+        )
+        text = post.content.strip()
+        metadata = dict(post.metadata)
+    except FileNotFoundError as exc:  # pragma: no cover - caller handles missing prompt
+        raise PromptNotFoundError(prompt_path) from exc
+
+    # Perform template substitution
+    try:
+        config = get_config()
+        identity = config.get("identity", {})
+        template_vars = _flatten_identity_to_template_vars(identity)
+
+        # Merge caller-provided context (overrides identity vars if collision)
+        if context:
+            for key, value in context.items():
+                str_value = str(value)
+                template_vars[key] = str_value
+                # Add uppercase-first version
+                template_vars[key.capitalize()] = str_value.capitalize()
+
+        # Load templates with identity and context vars so templates can use them
+        templates = _load_templates(template_vars)
+        template_vars.update(templates)
+
+        # Use safe_substitute to avoid errors for undefined variables
+        template = Template(text)
+        text = template.safe_substitute(template_vars)
+    except Exception as exc:
+        # Log but don't fail - return original text if substitution fails
+        logging.debug("Template substitution failed for %s: %s", prompt_path, exc)
+
+    # Prepend journal content if requested
+    if include_journal and name != "journal":
+        journal_content = load_prompt("journal", context=context)
+        text = f"{journal_content.text}\n\n{text}"
+
+    return PromptContent(text=text, path=prompt_path, metadata=metadata)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Prompt Metadata Loading
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _load_prompt_metadata(md_path: Path) -> dict[str, object]:
+    """Load prompt metadata from .md file with JSON frontmatter.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    md_path:
+        Path to the .md prompt file with JSON frontmatter.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict
+        Metadata dict with path, mtime, color, and frontmatter fields.
+    """
+    mtime = int(md_path.stat().st_mtime)
+    info: dict[str, object] = {
+        "path": str(md_path),
+        "mtime": mtime,
+    }
+
+    try:
+        post = frontmatter.load(
+            md_path,
+        )
+        if post.metadata:
+            info.update(post.metadata)
+    except Exception as exc:  # pragma: no cover - metadata optional
+        logging.debug("Error reading frontmatter from %s: %s", md_path, exc)
+
+    # Apply default color if not specified
+    if "color" not in info:
+        info["color"] = "#6c757d"
+
+    return info