The Devotional Path of Yes

Is there a small “yes” whispering to you right now? What would happen if you followed it?

Melissa Lundsgaard, kirtan singer, has been following the “path of yes” since leaving her corporate life to pursue her devotional calling to awaken the divine in the hearts of others through the ancient Bhakti yoga practice of kirtan, devotional singing.

Melissa opens the door—literally and metaphorically—into her personal temple room, filled with vibrant images, spiritual teachers, and divine feminine energy. Together, they explore the transformative power of devotion, surrender, and voice.

Melissa shares her unlikely path from corporate life to leading kirtans and retreats around the world. She speaks candidly about early discouragement around her voice, the role of her husband and community in encouraging her creative expression, and the divine presence she channels through daily practice.

We dive into stories of Lakshmi, Anandamayima, and the unseen miracles of spiritual life, as well as the healing power of sound, the joy of kirtan, and the freedom found through consistent devotion.

This conversation is a love letter to the divine feminine, creative courage, and the wild unfolding of a soul-aligned life.

LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS HERE or use the link to Spotify below.

Topics Covered

• Who Lakshmi is and why she’s central to Melissa’s life
• The healing vibration and purpose of Kirtan
• Melissa’s unexpected journey into becoming a Kirtan singer
• Stories of miracles, saints, and divine feminine figures
• The importance of discipline as devotion
• What a guru really is, and the misconception of spiritual hierarchy
• Finding your voice and creative freedom through surrender
• Faith in the unfolding path—even when it’s uncomfortable
• The power of singing and praying to the Divine Feminine in community

Key Takeaways

1. Devotion as a Path to Freedom
   Devotion, or bhakti, isn’t about restriction—it’s a spiritual discipline that liberates us from ego, confusion, and external expectations. Melissa reframes discipline as a joyful offering rather than a burden.
2. Your Voice is Sacred
   Melissa’s journey from self-doubt to singing in front of others reminds us that our voice is a divine instrument. Even if it was silenced in the past, it can be reclaimed through practice, support, and devotion.
3. Kirtan is Healing Sound Medicine
   Kirtan—call-and-response chanting of sacred names—is not a performance. It’s a collective spiritual practice that shifts energy, awakens joy, and offers healing to everyone in the room, each in their own way.
4. The Divine Feminine is Powerful and Present
   Through deities like Lakshmi and saints like Anandamayima, Melissa experiences the divine feminine as a force of abundance, beauty, and unconditional love. Singing to the Divine Mother is healing for both women and men.
5. Creative Liberation Comes Through Community
   Melissa found the courage to sing because of the support of others—first her husband, then teachers and community. True creative expression often blossoms in safe, loving spaces.
6. Faith in the Unknown is a Practice
   Melissa shared that choosing the spiritual path wasn’t always easy, but the miracles, synchronicities, and joy made it undeniable. She now sees discomfort as a sign she’s moving in the right direction.
7. Miracles Are Real, and They Are Personal
   From visions to butterfly visitations, Melissa’s story reminds us that spiritual signs and synchronicities can be deeply personal—and profoundly affirming.
8. We Are Not Alone
   Whether through deities, gurus, teachers, or community, we are constantly being supported. Melissa’s practice is rooted in the truth that we can surrender and be held by something greater.
9. Creativity is Devotion in Motion
   Whether through painting or singing, creativity becomes sacred when it’s offered as a gift—not judged or controlled, but simply expressed in connection with the divine.
10. Say Yes to the Uncomfortable
    Melissa followed the “trail of yes,” even when it felt scary or uncertain. That willingness to say yes again and again led her to a life she never could have planned.

The Guided Visualization

Enter the Temple of Devotion: A Guided Visualization

Step into a sanctuary where the divine feminine lives and breathes through every scent, sound, and shimmer of light. In this deeply sacred guided visualization, you’ll be led into an ethereal temple woven from rose petals, golden flames, and timeless devotion. Inspired by the goddess Lakshmi and the presence of saints and wise women, this space offers rest for your soul and nourishment for your spirit.

As you enter this temple of luminous white marble and soft pink rugs, you’ll encounter sacred statues, chanting voices, fragrant incense, and offerings of food prepared with love. You’ll feel the presence of unseen hands blessing you, golden butterflies delivering messages from the beyond, and the hum of kirtan awakening something ancient within.

This is more than a visualization—it’s a remembrance. A return to the sacred temple within you. A place of devotion, beauty, belonging, and truth.

If you’ve been longing to reconnect with the divine, to feel held and seen, or to awaken the sacred rhythm within your own heart—this is your invitation.

Welcome home.

Connect with Carrie Schmitt:

• Instagram: @carrieschmitt
• Join Carrie’s online art class + community HERE.
• Subscribe to the podcast to never miss an episode.

Connect with Melissa Lundsgaard:

• Website: robandmelissa.com
• Instagram: @robnmelissa

✨ Share your answers! Use @carrieschmitt on Instagram, leave me a voicemail, or email me here.

Reflection Questions:

1. What does devotion mean to you, and how does it show up in your creative life?
2. Have you ever experienced a moment of being “chosen” by your calling rather than choosing it?
3. What are the small or sacred practices that ground you when you feel lost or overwhelmed?
4. Melissa talks about following “the trail of yes” — what breadcrumbs are showing up for you right now?
5. How do you experience the divine feminine in your life? How do you nourish it?
6. What creative expressions are calling to you, even if they feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar?
7. What is your relationship with discipline? Could it be reframed as devotion?
8. Can you recall a time when community supported or inspired your creative voice?
9. What miracles or synchronicities have affirmed your path lately?