Nothing to Declare… Apart from Holy Water: Sacralizing Borders and Securitizing Spiritual Things in Fiji

Abstract

Abstract This article uses the case study of Fiji’s border restrictions on Holy Water to think about how even the supernational (like spiritual things) remains subject to international border regimes. In this case, we consider how Fiji’s borders have actually been sacralized in order to securitize Holy Water—inhibiting its importation into the country. Holy Water as a spiritual thing plays an important role in spiritual practices across the globe, and certainly within the vibrant religious and political landscape of Fiji. In this article, we explore the border restrictions on Holy Water in Fiji. Exportation of the Miracle/Healing Water from Fiji over the last few years to New Zealand shows that while Fiji is sacralizing its borders to securitize Holy Water, New Zealand remains highly secularized. In this piece, we propose that research focused on the relationship between the circulation of spiritual things and their crossing of international borders is required so we can better understand how secular borders are negotiated by spiritual things and their people.