This is the (admittedly) "quasi-based" method that Richard Idemon utilized in counting the elements: (his methodology and techniques, obviously, go into much more depth than what can be practically covered here):

Only use the two luminaries (the Sun and the Moon) and the seven planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

You do NOT count the element of the Ascendant or the Midheaven. The Ascendant and Midheaven are filters or doorways into the chart and do not "act" in the same way a planet does.

• For counting "strength" purposes - give the elements of Sun, the Moon and the ruling planet of the Ascendant 2 points.
• Give the elements of the remaining seven planets 1 point each.  

Two Methods of looking at the results:

Quasi-Richard Idemon approach:
Add 'em up and you can see relative strengths and weakness - as well as - "uninvited guests" and "only children" (the Sun, Moon and Ruler of the Ascendant can still be "only children", in spite of giving them two points for strength). Based on the count, any element can be the superior element and any element can be the inferior element.

Very Quasi-Liz Greene approach:
What's the strongest element? Keeping in line with Carl Jung's theories of the Four Functions: If the superior (or strongest) element is Water, then the inferior (weaker or uninvited) element is automatically assigned to Air. It doesn't matter how many planets one has in Air. Air will be the one to normally go underground. If Air is the strongest, then the inferior element is Water. (If you are strong in both Water and Air, with Water "technically" stronger - occasionally the stronger element, Water, will go underground.) If it's Fire, then the inferior element is Earth. If it's Earth, then the inferior element is Fire.

Yep! I can almost see some of you moaning and groaning over these methods of counting up the elements? I groaned, too... (in the beginning) Ten to one odds - I bet you especially disliked not being able to count the Ascendant's element?

It really rubs against the grain, doesn't it.....? Oh well... Here's an alternative way of determining the Superior and Inferior Elements... For clarity sake, though, I still recommend using the Idemon method of counting the elements described above.

(back to Guess Who's Coming to Dinner -- The Uninvited Guest)