Hi Reader,

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Happy Thursday! We're continuing our "Zettelkasten in Obsidian" series, and today I'm sharing how I use links to recreate Luhmann's numbering system (keep scrolling for screenshots!).

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Luhmann numbered his index cards to connect notes and create threads of thought that he called note sequences. For example, your first note is "1". Your next note is "2". But let's say that your third note is related to Note 1 (it will add to the conversation, so to speak)... so it slides between Notes 1 and 2, labeled 1a:

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How do we recreate Luhmann's process digitally?

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Luhmann didn't have a digital tool; he needed his numbering system to navigate between notes. In Obsidian, we can use bidirectional hyperlinks to connect our notes and jump from one to the next. The term "bidirectional" simply means that these links function like a two-way street. When you link to another note, this note has a "backlink" to the original source - so you can move both forward and backwards.

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In that sense, hyperlinks seemingly eliminate the need for a numerical system. However...

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Why I'm Numbering My Notes Anyway

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I've decided to manually number my digital notes like Luhmann. Visually, it's helpful to see the numbers in the sidebar - when my notes are sorted by "File Name (A to Z)," they're listed in numerical order, so that I have an at-a-glance view of my sequences. Otherwise, I'd need to click into each individual note to follow the links in a sequence.

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The power of Zettelkasten is in the infinite sequences that form as you continue to add notes... and Luhmann's numbering system is agile enough to allow for the addition of new notes between existing notes, without disrupting the order. 1a, 1b, 1c... 1a1, 1a2, 1a3... you get the idea.

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Whether or not you number your notes, keep in mind that you must update your links when you add new notes in order to truly "connect" ideas and preserve your sequences. My process looks like this:

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1. Create a new "permanent" note.
2. Decide where it best fits in my slip-box. (Is this an entirely new train of thought, or can I append this thought or idea to an existing sequence?)
3. Find the preceding note and add a link to the new note.

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I'll use the example I shared in my article My Step by Step Process to Create a Permanent Note in Zettelkasten... My existing permanent note is titled "Beginning a novel with 'mood.'" Then I wrote a new note that adds to the conversation, titled "Delivering on readers' expectations."

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I returned to the original, existing note to add a link to 1a, "Delivering on readers' expectations," because this is the next note in the sequence.

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HYPOTHETICAL example - let's say I've already created the next note in this sequence, titled 1b. And then a few days later, I want to add a note between 1a and 1b. I'd need to add a link to this new note (from 1a --> 1a1) - but I would NOT delete the existing link between 1a and 1b. Why? Because it's still a valid connection and continuation of the sequence... the addition of 1a1 is merely a new branch.

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Creating these links is a HUGE part of the process. You have an opportunity to rediscover existing notes and think critically about where new notes belong. After all, our brains learn best by "hanging" new information on existing knowledge - and that's exactly what we're doing by creating note sequences.

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Full transparency... this is new to me, too! I'm experimenting with Zettelkasten for the first time. I plan to try it this way for a while and let you know how it goes. Have you found a different way to emulate Luhmann's process? Write me back and let me know what works for you!

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Sincerely,

Brooke H