The Maleficent Life of Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter

A Chart Delineation

This month, astrologer Molly Curtis is back to take us on a wild adventure through the swamps of Steve Irwin’s larger-than-life journey. Whether you are a beginner or advanced astrology lover, there’s much to learn from this chart delineation. Please dive in, enjoy, and don’t forget to leave a comment!

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“If we save our wild places, we will ultimately save ourselves.”

Not everyone is built to confront and handle the world’s most dangerous and often deadliest animals. It takes courage, physical strength, and absolute mental fortitude. Perhaps one even needs a careful dose of martial madness. One man was raised to not only immerse himself in it, but to broadcast it to the masses, Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter.

Until Steve Irwin slammed onto the scene with his athletic, in-your-face wildlife documentaries, the world had only been introduced to such men in Hollywood movies like Crocodile Dundee, seemingly a caricature or archetype of a rugged, wild Tarzan man. Steve Irwin was the real deal, on and off the camera. A life built on and fueled by risk and a birth chart with loud malefic placements to match.

Raised On Reptiles

Born down under a Virgo Full Moon, February 22, 1962, Irwin was initially introduced to the wild world of reptiles by his father Bob, who was known to be a wildlife expert and herpetologist, and his mother Lyne, who rehabilitated wildlife. Together, they started a small, 4-acre conservation park, Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park.

These early beginnings would immerse Steve and his youthful mind in the splendors of all things that slither and intimidate. He assisted his parents in overseeing the care and maintenance of the animals at the park as early as 6 years old. It is reported he wrestled his first crocodile at the age of 9 under his father’s supervision. Another story recalls teenage Steve cleaning a 24-foot python’s cage, when it struck out and wrapped itself so tightly around his body, he could barely emit a scream, let alone breathe. With each breath, the snake would constrict him more. Eventually, his mother heard his struggle and managed to uncoil the python and free him.

Raised by two passionate, fearless parents, Steve’s life was set to eventually manage his family’s zoo. Before that, he worked at a remote refuge in Queensland in his early 20s, where he kept himself entertained using a home recorder to capture his adventures. Before the age of selfies and social media, he wasn’t explicitly recording these harrowing and wild escapades for anyone. Yet filming these unique moments ironically became a training ground for the most incredible adventure of all, celebrity status!

Emerging From The Bush

Steve would go on to successfully educate the world about wildlife conservationism and environmentalism. Through his unique documentary film-making, dynamic personality, animation, and athleticism, he broadcast first-hand encounters with the globe’s most dangerous animals.

Placing the camera and himself in the most precarious and dangerous positions, the viewer was along for the adventure. Steve’s zeal and passion translated to the camera; he may be mad but always seemed in control.

His first episode of what would become his first hit TV show, The Crocodile Hunter, was footage from his honeymoon with his bride, Terri Raines, a naturalist. Steve and Terri spent their honeymoon trapping crocodiles, and the world ate it up. Nothing like this had been broadcast to the masses in such a unique style, and Animal Planet would continue to spin off series such as Croc Files, The Crocodile Diaries, and New Breed Vets. Steve was a wanted man amongst the airwaves, starring on late-night talk shows, Oprah, and movies.

Planetary Keystones

“If you can’t excite people about wildlife, how can you persuade them to love, cherish and protect our wildlife and the environment they live in?”

When considering what planets would provide such an intense and passionate engine of excitement, adventure, and courage, we certainly would look to Mars. Mars, the warrior, the fearless one, the instigator. Often referred to as the lesser malefic, Mars also has a role in assisting natives with unwavering energy. We need Mars to get things done, chase down fear, and disrupt the status quo. Steve was also trained in martial arts and MMA, which are perfect outlets for martial energy.

In Steve’s chart, we find Mars in the 2nd house, Aquarius, the sign of the societal disruptor. This is the house of personal wealth, assets, and skills needed to support a native’s life. Mars is closely conjunct the South node, and in some ways, this could decrease shadow attributes of Mars.

Mars is not alone, though; in fact, he is in abundant company. A stellium resides in the 2nd house, including the Great Malefic King Saturn, who oversees Mars, Mercury, the South node, and Jupiter. Planetary energies abound and highlight the potency of both malefics occupying the same space. The potential for seeking out the most eccentric, high-risk path towards making a living resides here. Adversity is present, welcomed, and protected. From an early age, he was carving out his own adventurous and highly dangerous path forward, which included inheriting the zoo from his parents. The malefics were laying down the foundations of his journey.

Sympathy For The Devil

“I’ve been put on this planet to protect wildlife and wilderness areas, which in essence is going to help humanity. I want to have the purest of oceans. I want to be able to drink water straight out of that creek. I want to save the world.”

An Aquarian stellium suggests that the native’s relationship towards finances and making money could be quirky, individuated, and outside of societal norms. Money itself may not actually ever be the goal, but a means towards a larger collective mission. He viewed the opportunity of being successful and using his power behind the lens to bring awareness to the majesty of Mother Earth. He wished the world to see the beauty in each animal, especially the most vicious.

Steve was a wildlife warrior and a bit of a societal rebel. Like Saturn, the outermost inner planet, a known black sheep, he scampered away from the busy world of humanity and located his mission and spirit in the animal kingdom. He was clear on his purpose: to defend every aspect of Mother Earth, specifically the most undomesticated, the most wild, the most unloved.

Saturnian black sheep energy is then shifted upwards to his most public house, Libra in the 10th, where Saturn is exalted. Everything about him was original, unique, and charismatic. His public persona, 10th house Libra, presented a lovable outsider. Irwin was the Aquarian water-bearer, pouring forth awareness of this abstract, isolated, and misunderstood world of killer predators.

Hermes Krokódeilos

“If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched. Share my wildlife with me. Because humans want to save things that they love.”

Steve was made for the camera, and he was a bit of a wild animal on screen as well. He could take an injury from a 17-foot super-croc and still smile through it with his exuberant Australian accent, “Busted finger, cracked rib, I feel good, I feel great.”

Mercury sandwiched between both malefics displays his fierce and excitable communication style. Maybe Saturn cooled him off just enough to remain calm when most would panic. Saturn and Mars conjunct imitate a brake pedal. On one hand, his energy was very kinetic, but when in the face of very real danger, he possessed a check valve that throttled his adrenaline enough to engage with the savage world that he actively sought.

Diving in after a crocodile wearing only a mask and snorkel, swimming beside it as if he were one. Maybe he was. He understood the language of the beasts, and that is signified with Mercury surrounded by both malefics. He translated their intentions back to us. Like Hermes, Steve could literally swim between two worlds, translating back to the mundane world the mysteries of the swampy unknown.

Steve was born under a Virgo Full Moon, which resides in the 9th house of worldly adventures, enlightenment, and education. Hosted by Mercury, we are redirected to the lord of the house in the 2nd. Communication and media based on his global adventures would be his platform for financial success.

The Full Moon reflects the Sun’s intentions, which are spiritual and reflected in the 3rd house. Often referred to as the fish bowl we swim in daily, this was Steve’s daily temple. A watery Pisces Sun sits in the bounds of Venus, and exalted Venus also resides in those very bounds. Steve was entering inhabitable environments daily, personally wading in infested waters, and placing the camera in the faces of “enemies” with no anti-venom. He brought a rare, isolated world to the screen for anyone to experience. In return, he hoped you, the viewer, could embrace the majesty of the terrible, and maybe save them all.

“I have no fear of losing my life-if I have to save a koala or a crocodile, or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it. My job, my mission, the reason I’ve been put onto this planet is to save wildlife.”

When The Malefics Come to Collect

Steve would encounter and endure real animal danger over the years. None was as lethal as the one on September 4, 2006. Steve had been actively filming for a nature documentary, The Ocean’s Deadliest, in Batt Reef, Queensland. On a down production day, he decided to snorkel and film footage for his daughter's television show, Bindi the Jungle Girl. While snorkeling, he was suddenly pierced by a stingray in the chest. Ironically, the stingray isn’t considered the Ocean’s Deadliest prey, but today would be different. The puncture pierced straight through his thoracic wall, penetrating his heart. This was lethal. This was being filmed. Crikey!

On September 4, 2006, the Sun was directly passing over his MC degree in Virgo, and Uranus sat in exact opposition, foreshadowing a sudden shift of his life vitality and career. Mars and the South Node were also conjunct his natal Moon in Virgo, suggesting an irritant that would drain his life force. Mars, representing sharp weapons and inflaming irritants, pierces through his body. The Moon was transiting his 1st house, also Saturn ruled.

The underworld god, Pluto, had been toiling in Steve’s 12th house of shadowlands and was currently in direct square contact with his Virgo Moon. An instigator transit, activating Mars. Jupiter’s presence in the apex waters of Scorpio was also exactly conjunct natal Neptune and squaring natal Mars, lord of the 11th.

We can see further distress on this day with the reaper Saturn, stalking his 8th house of death and collection, hovering over his North Node. Saturn opposed natal Mars and transiting Neptune, suggesting a debt that is ready to be paid.

“My number one rule is to keep that camera rolling. Even if it’s shaky or slightly out of focus, I don’t give a rip. Even if a big old alligator is chewing me up I want to go down and go, ‘Crikey!’ Just before I die. That would be the ultimate for me.”

Perhaps Saturn and Mars served as ghost writers penning his life story, providing courage, adventure, conflict, and passion. The malefics wrote the season finale as well, one I think he would find worthy. It was Poseidon’s sea and creatures that provided Steve with purpose and ultimately took his life.

He was intimate with Mother Nature’s most untamed and wild side. A mundane death would seem too tame for a man who quite literally took life by the horns and asked for the most out of it, maybe even demanded, “Is this all you got?”

Steve’s entire life was an attempt to ultimately save this majestic world by giving every last monstrous creature a moment in the spotlight and to be truly seen for its glory. It demanded even his last breath. The final words Steve spoke were, “I am dying.” Crikey!

On October 14, 2001, an asteroid was discovered in an observatory in Brazos, Texas. The asteroid 57567 was named Crikey, in honor of an “ordinary bloke with an extraordinary passion and enthusiasm for wildlife conservation.” The asteroid sits between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

A 10th house Libra Sun transmitting a t-square to exalted Mars in Steve’s first house and exalted Jupiter in his 7th. Venus was moments away from entering her domicile in Libra as well. The Moon had just touched his natal Moon and was moving into a New Moon Phase in his 10th house of public reputation and honor.

Uranus was conjunct his natal Jupiter. Neptune conjunct his natal Saturn. The heavens were aligned for a night of discover and honor.

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Molly Curtis is a practicing astrologer and archetypal tarot reader, based in Michigan. You can connect further with her astro-musings or schedule a reading at Analogskyastrology.com.