There are 8 slots you can put components in to make a spell. Spells take from 5 to 8 components to cast. The components must be in correct order for a spell to work. The Taper will change from level to level but can usually be determined by the previous Taper. Trial and error must be used when there was no Taper prior.
Scarabs determine what level spell is being cast.
There are also only 6 Levels per spell. Scarabs for a full list of Scarabs per level. Herbs are used to classify spells into groups. Most herbs are unchanged for spells relating to each other. Herbs for a full list of Herbs and their Mantras.