Self-consciousness is spiritual friction. A person's self-consciousness stunts spiritual growth. If a person would have no self-consciousness, he would be in perpetual motion. It has always been the dream of mankind to create a machine of perpetual motion. This is impossible in this world because of friction.
Friction prevents perpetual motion of any machine.
In the world of Emanation there is no friction, because there is no self-consciousness. Therefore, there is perpetual motion. The process is fast and continuous, like the speed of light. This is why the concept of light corresponds to the world of Emanation. Light has no mass, or self-consciousness.