01What Claude Obsidian Is and How It Works

Claude Obsidian is a method to give Claude AI a powerful second brain that tracks everything you do. It combines two free tools: OMI and Obsidian. OMI records your screen, conversations, and tasks all day.

Obsidian stores those notes as markdown files. Claude can then read and organize that information.

This system solves Claude's weak memory. Instead of generic answers, Claude gives answers based on your real projects, decisions, and current tasks. The difference is huge.

You can also use this same context with other AI agents like Hermes or open Claude.

02Main Features of the Second Brain System

The system has several key features that make it work well:

  • OMI automatic note-taking: Records your screen, conversations, and daily activities without you doing anything. It also sets up tasks and links to other apps.
  • Obsidian vault storage: Stores all your notes in markdown files that are easy to organize and search.
  • Claude integration: You can connect Claude directly to your Obsidian vault by opening the vault folder in a Claude session or using MCP Obsidian.
  • AI organization: Claude can restructure your vault into a clear PARA system (Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive) and create navigation maps.
  • Real-time updates: You can see Claude organize notes in real time, including graph views and linked notes.

03How to Set Up Claude Obsidian

Setting up this second brain is simple. Follow these steps:

  1. Install OMI: Download the OMI app. It's free to use for note-taking. You don't need the chat subscription for this process.
  2. Set up Obsidian: Install Obsidian, which is a free app for creating markdown files. Create a vault folder to store all your notes.
  3. Connect OMI to Obsidian: In OMI, link to Obsidian so your daily notes automatically go into the vault.
  4. Open your vault in Claude: In a new Claude session, open your Obsidian vault folder. Claude will scan the contents.
  5. Ask Claude to organize: Tell Claude to restructure your vault using the PARA system. It will create folders, navigation maps, and a dashboard.

Once set up, every AI agent you use can pull in that context for smarter answers.

04How to Use Claude Obsidian in Practice

After setup, you can use Claude in two main ways. First, you can ask Claude to pull in context from your second brain. Open your Obsidian vault in a Claude session and say, 'Check through my memories and pull in relevant ideas for automating my day.' Claude will read your notes and give suggestions based on your actual work.

Second, you can ask Claude to organize your messy vault. In the episode, Julian shows a vault with untitled documents and no structure. He asks Claude to restructure it.

Claude creates folders like daily, projects, areas, resources, memories, and archive. It also builds a navigation dashboard with a read-me file that explains the structure. The graph view connects notes nicely.

You can also take a screenshot of the graph view and ask Claude to improve it. The AI will color-group folders and link notes better. Each document gets headings and subheadings, making it easy to flick through.

05Results and Comparisons from the Episode

In the episode, Julian shows a before-and-after comparison. Before, the Obsidian vault had messy untitled documents and no organization. After Claude organized it, the vault followed the PARA system: Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive.

Each section had numbered folders and clear labels. The home section included a dashboard with 'right now,' 'active projects,' and 'resources.'

The graph view also improved. Initially, notes were not linked together well. After Claude's work, the graph showed connected nodes with color-coded folders.

Julian notes that the organized second brain is far more useful than using Claude alone as a documenter. OMI captures context automatically, while Claude cannot run autonomously like that.

The cost comparison: OMI is free for notes (only chat costs), Obsidian is free, and Claude requires a subscription. This makes it a low-cost way to supercharge AI context.

06Tips, Limits, and Mistakes to Avoid

Watch out for a few things to get the most out of Claude Obsidian:

  • Use OMI for note-taking, not Claude: Claude can't run autonomously to record your day. OMI handles that job automatically.
  • Keep your Obsidian vault clean: Start with a messy vault? That's fine – Claude can organize it. But avoid dumping too much unrelated content.
  • Link notes properly: The graph view works best when notes have internal links. Claude can help create those links.
  • Add emojis for visual clarity: In the episode, Claude adds nice emojis to each folder and section. This makes navigation easier.
  • Don't overuse the chat feature: OMI's chat costs money. For the second brain process, you don't need it – just use the free note-taking.

07Who Claude Obsidian Is For and Why It Matters

Claude Obsidian is for anyone who uses AI agents to work smarter. If you use Claude, Hermes agent, open Claude, or Codex, this system gives them deep context about you. Instead of generic answers, your agents understand your projects, decisions, and current tasks.

This makes every AI tool dramatically more useful.

It matters because AI memory is weak. Default Claude remembers only small bits like names and preferences. With this second brain, it knows what you worked on last week and what's on your plate right now.

That context turns a basic chatbot into a powerful personal assistant. Even better, the same context works across multiple agents, so your whole AI ecosystem gets smarter.

08How to Connect Other AI Agents to Obsidian

The second brain isn't limited to Claude. You can link it to other AI agents like Hermes agent or open Claude. The process is the same: give the agent access to your Obsidian vault folder.

They will read your notes and use that context in their responses.

In the episode, Julian mentions that Hermes agent is very popular for agentic tasks. By connecting it to Obsidian, you get even better results. The more context you provide, the better the outputs.

Your AI agents start to understand your style, your projects, and your priorities. This works for any tool that can read markdown files or connect via MCP.

If you want a full step-by-step tutorial, Julian offers the Infinite Context Engine in his AI Profit Boardroom community. That includes video walkthroughs and prompts to get started.