Hi Z,
Years ago, I found VOR navigation bizarre in my first introduction, until it finally clicked in my head, and they're easy. I "think" I recognized a common misunderstanding / query in your question. (If not, sorry! Disregard)
If the VOR is behind you, you won't always get a from indication. It depends on what COURSE you have selected. If you are due North of a VOR station, and have 360 selected on CDI, you will have a FROM indication, as flying the selected course will take you FROM the VOR. If, with aircraft in the EXACT same position, you select 180 as your course, you would flip to a TO indication, even if you are in fact still flying NORTH. The flag would indicate TO the selected course, when you are flying further away from the VOR. (On the most basic equipment you may think you are flying towards station when you are in fact heading away from it, by accidentally selecting the RECIPROCAL course. Fly left / fly right indications are the opposite of what you actually want to do. Situational awareness is critical.)
What aircraft are you flying. Nav display?
Homing to a VOR, if you have an RMI, you literally point it at station, compensate for wind, and maintain that heading.
If you have an HSI, rotate the course selector thgrough 360 degrees until the bar centres itself with a TO (up) indication. Then select the same heading as the selected course, and keep the bar centered with small corrections, and you are homing to the VOR.