Our reality is created by the flow of streaming consciousness grids, matrixes, or the collective unconsciousness through which we learn. It is an experiment set in linear time to experience emotions. At some point consciousness at the physical level freezes (the metaphoric Ice Age) and souls return to their natural state of light.

You can also see this in the reverse ... wherein consciousness is frozen in the physical grids, playing out it programs, soon to thaw and return to light.