Thems neddles can be buggahs to interpret...
Yes, push the head and pull the tail is the correct axiom, but it only solves one problem; you might not have the spatial awareness issue licked.
If the head is pointing to the correctly tuned beacon then by default the tail is always the reciprocal bearing from the beacon (QDR with ADF, Radial with VOR).
mad_jock is correct with the RANT rant - invaluable bit of kit - it backs up and proves what Thaller says throughout his book. I do not 'do' maths and found the standard methods of explanation just didn't cut it. 'Never Get Lost' put the whole thing another way that I found clicked.
Get it, read it and my strange diatribe earlier will be clear.